removing electrolplate from parts

[jpolacchi]

Anyone know how to strip the electroplated chrome off of kit parts? A long time ago I seem to remember reading that if you soak the parts in bleach that it strips the plating off. Is that the best way or is there another way?

[Saturn]

Castrol Super Clean automotive degreaser is what I used. But Castrol divested and I think it's just called SuperClean now. Reportedly, the formula is not the same. CSC was pretty caustic stuff. (it will eat almuminum, but will not damage styrene) CSC was the only thing that could take chrome *and* the cream yellow undercoat that Tamiya kits had.

Lye-based Oven Cleaner works in a pinch- but usually takes longer.

[Sluis Van Shipyards]

I haven't tried it, but I remember someone saying Coke will strip chrome off.

[seam-filler]

I haven't tried it, but I remember someone saying Coke will strip chrome off.

Yes it does, but it doesn't always remove the undercoat. It's an overnight job, but a lot less toxic than almost anything else. Use regular Coke - none of that diet, low or zero calorie swill - I've found they just don't work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-cNTb_KeCY

[Rocketeer]

ScaleCoat Paint Remover will remove the aluminum layer and the clear conductive layer under the aluminum.

[jpolacchi]

Really? And it doesn't mess up the plastic parts? I just have a bunch of chrome parts I wants to strip. I think it be better than just painting over the chrome I.M.O. Where can I find it? So far I'm not really getting any hits on who has it?

[seam-filler]

ScaleCoat Paint Remover will remove the aluminum layer and the clear conductive layer under the aluminum.

Except that ScaleCoat went out of business at the beginning of the year. Model railroaders have been moaning about it for months.

[jpolacchi]

Would the Revell paint stripper work just as good? Y/N?

[Wug]

I'm with Saturn. If you want to remove everything down to the bare plastic. SuperClean is the way to go. Bleach will remove the plating and probably leave the undercoat, if there is any, on the part.

[jpolacchi]

Okay, so pass on the Reveal paint stripper? It's not like you get a lot of it anyway. It's maybe a 1oz. bottle? I should be able to find the Super Clean at Ace Hardware.

[EVApodman]

I used brake fluid. Let it soak for several days and then brush the loose chrome with a toothbrush. Even so it took me several soakings and brushings and working with a toothpick to remove all of it.

[jpolacchi]

Brake fluid is super caustic. I know others who use it as a paint stripper. Never thought it would remove electroplating.

[jpolacchi]

Is this the same thing as the old school Castrol Super Clean, not the new super clean . I've got a loads of parts I wants to strip of the chrome off of.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/266839007212?_ ... BMzPz7zNNk

Also wondering if this is the same 'old' Castrol Superclean. It has a different label and just doesn't say, "Sueprclearn multipurpose"

https://shop.hamiltonmarine.com/product ... 17168.html

[Andrew Gorman]

Easy Off oven cleaner works for me. One famously tough to strip kit is/was the Airfix large scale Bentley. They vacuum sprayed a copper undercoat so you have to use ferric chloride!

[Saturn]

Sodium Hydroxide and Sodium Hyrdasilicate are the key ingredients, That trial size doesn't specify those. So maybe the marine supply one?1

[jpolacchi]

Well, I don't think they tell you what is in it either the Evil Bay auction or the other web site I found? I'd rather buy the gallon jug than getting ripped off by an ebay seller and pay $30 for a 4oz. spray bottle. I was just wondering if those are the old school superclean degreasers or the new version that sounds like it doesn't work?

[Andrew Gorman]

Check the SDS- safety data sheet- for whatever product you are using. It will tell you most of what's in there

[jpolacchi]

Hey everyone, I think I have good news. I did ask for the SDS on the Castrol Superclean and they came through. Pretty caustic stuff. I think it has all the nasty chemicals in it that strips 50+year burnt on engine oil, grease and gasket glue and it looks like it will strip electro plated plastic parts right down to the plastic without hopefully damaging the plastic.I am not sure how to download the file I received to show it in here (otherwise I would), but these are the main chemicals. You don't really want to get this stuff on you, it will literally dissolve your skin off from prolonged exposure, safety gloves are a necessity and probably eye protection. There's obviously more to it, its just doesn't copy and paste well. Tell me what you think?

. Section 8 – Exposure Controls/Personal Protection Exposure limits:
Chemical Name ACGIH-TLV OSHA-
PEL Sodium Metasilicate Not Available 5mg/m3
(TWA) Sodium hydroxide 2mg/m3 2mg/m3 Surfactant,
blend Not Available Not Available
Exposure controls: Ventilation and Engineering Measures: Use in well ventilated area. App

[Saturn]

20 years ago Tamiya kitted a 1/48 MiG-15 bis that was electroplated ("Silver Color Plated") CSC made short work of it, first stripping the plating, and after a few more hours, the creme yellow undercoating. Bare white plastic underneath all that.

Turns out Tamiya uses the same process with all of its chromed parts trees. Ended up stripping 1/12 motorcycle kits with CSC too. But Tamiya is the only manufacturer that I've seen that does this. It may be overkill to use CSC on a AMT/Revell car kit since that plating is nowhere near as durable.

[jpolacchi]

Electroplating on plastic is the same chemical process regardless of the kit brand. I've seen old Revell, MPC, Monogram and AMT kits on EVIL BAY (because I'm looking for 1/8 scale motorcycles right now) and some of those kits were complete P.O.S. A seller was still trying to get near $100 for a half assembled kit with broken and missing parts. The few sprue sections untouched were some of the chromed sections and the chrome plating flaked off but still had that yellow coating on it. So, it's all the same. I have a ton of chrome plated parts I need stripped from all different manufacturers. Tamiya, AMT, Monogram, Italeri, Testors, Heller. You name it.

[Wug]

jpolacchi

Could you post the address of the SDS? Thanks!

How did this thread get over 100,000 views?

[jpolacchi]

I would. How do you upload a PDF on here? No idea how the thread got 1,000 views. I did post the link above in one of my posts to where I found the Castrol degreaser. The Guy I heard from sent me the SDS, but if I remember right, its a PDF file...like 10 pages long or something? I'm pretty sure it's the sameold school N.O.S stuff based on the main chemical ingredients in it from what I read.

[southwestforests]

jpolacchi
Could you post the address of the SDS?

I'm obviously not them, but can take care of that,

https://www.superclean.com/wp-content/u ... S-v2.0.pdf

9 pages.

SDS - SuperClean Degreaser and SuperClean Foaming Degreaser
Preparation Date: 03/08/2016
1
Safety Data Sheet
Section 1 – Identification
Product Identifier: SuperClean Degreaser and Foaming Degreaser
Other means of Identification: Cleaning Solution

[jpolacchi]

I think that's the same SDS I got. I couldn't figure out how to post it here with my phone. I'm really bad at using my cell phone. I still can't see how you upload files and post them here? What do you think? is it the same stuff that will strip electroplated plastic? I think it is.

[Wug]

Thanks southwestforests.

In addition to the skin and eye warnings, pay attention to the metal corrosion warning. Years ago I cleaned my bathroom sink with Superclean. The faucet has been slowly dissolving ever since.

Mike

[jpolacchi]

WOW. Well, I knew it was super caustic stuff. I think it will dissolve your skin off from prolonged exposure. This seems to be the old school stuff that can strip electroplated plastic. Long elbow length rubber chemical gloves and a face shield will be necessary. I might even use one of those one-piece painter suites (get some from Home Depot)

[jpolacchi]

Anyone think this stuff will strip paint too? If its strong enough to removed electroplating and the yellow coating...it should strip paint also...no?

[Saturn]

Depends on how long you immerse it and getting a tight seal on the container. I tried stripping my first build of the DS9 Defiant a few years back, and results were mixed. It won't damage/melt soften the styrene, that's for certain.

[jpolacchi]

Is oven cleaner a better paint stripper or something else? Brake fluid maybe?

[Saturn]

Both use Lye as the active ingredient. The biggest differences is that oven cleaner's cheaper, but CSC is a lot stronger. There are hobby oriented paint strippers like Strip-A-Kit and Poly Scale's Easy Lift Off- but I think they're long out of production.

But CSC has saved many canopies after I've had paint leak under the mask, or overspray getting somewhere unwanted. There's no reason not to try it if you already have it on hand.