I have two 356 wheels that have pitted chrome on them. The powdercoater told me I have to get the chrome removed first before I powdercoat them silver. Does anyone know of an electroplater in and around Sydney that will remove the chrome from the wheels?

I've tried Blu chrome in Bankstown and they aren't interested.

Thanks

Steve

Sorry, can't answer your question, but would it be possible to set up a DIY reverse-electroplating arrangement powered by a battery charger? I'm not sure if this would be enough voltage to deplate wheels, but I've seen one website where a battery-charger-powered setup was being used to clean cruddry and rusty parts.

hth

Steve

Try Ferguson Plating at 169 Bellevue Prd Carlton 9546-2907

I had my Bumper Bar stripped there for $40.00 each.

You will have to removed the tyres first and you only need to get the chrome off not the nickle if theres any on there. The Powdercoating will bond to the nickle surface.

Thanks again for the pointer Dave. Geez I'm sure you could write a book on how and where to restore your VW!

Modulus, hydrochloric acid will remove the chrome but read this:-

Q. What is the easiest way to remove chrome or can you let me know where to purchase a chemical to do this with as my supplier stopped selling the stripper that I used.

A. Sodium hydroxide at 8-12 oz/gal (w/v) works well for electrostripping chromium from carbon steel substrates. The bath can be operated at ambient temperature or higher, at a current density of 0.25 - 1.0 amp/sq.in. The fumes evolved are toxic and must be evacuated and scrubbed. The bath starts out as a simple solution of caustic soda but acquires an increasing component of a hexavalent chromium compound as the metallic chromium is electrostripped from the workpieces. The spent solution is hazardous waste and must be properly disposed.



Now unless you fancy a garage full of toxic fumes I'd not even bother!

Thanks

Steve

Good points, far too much toxic chemistry for homework!
From memory, hexavalent chromium was the pollutant causing all sorts of nasties in the Erin Brokovitch saga.

I was going to do the same with my Speedster wheels Steve but all of the chrome places put it in the too hard basket. Fergusons Plating won't dechrome wheels as they need a special setup to do or something crazy. The wheels need to be split, dechromed and then the centers are welded back in I think. Let us know how you go as I am still wanting to do mine.

There was a place at Guildford that was very helpful when i was going to strip my bumper bars

Could have been :-

Adept Hardchrome (Aust)
30 Whitaker St Yennora NSW 2161
ph: (02) 9632 3759 Electroplating

I will look at home and see if i can find them

Stripping the wheels by cutting the centers out would be the best way to do the job.

They proberly wont guarentee the removal of all the acid caught in between the center and the outer rim.

If this is neutralised correctly by the plating shop and washed with hot water and blown out with compressed air it should be removed, to stop corrosion starting.