Stripping Chrome from Plastic

[Sub-Par]

Alright all you paint and body techs, I have a 99 NBS Sierra 1500. I want to color match the grille and bumper; is there a writeup anywhere on stripping chrome from the plastic grille? Or is it better to start with W/T grille and sand it smooth? The truck is Indigo Blue metallic, so a darker hue.

[helo]

Heh.. I just attempted this with my headlight/blinker panels. First one was pealing, so I removed all the chrome. Went at it with a grinder and melted the shat out of it. :badidea:
Roughed the other one with a flapper wheel and ended up with a ghetto surface, because the flapper melted through the chrome coating in a few places.

Painted black they aren't bad from a distance (behind a massive steel bumper w/ winch), but up close it's ghetto as hell.

My center grill is next because the chrome is fading/warped/ugly/... Not really sure what the best approach is going to be, but if you want quality results you better just start with a fresh grill that isn't chromed.

[VLRD1500]

I think your best bet would either hand sand with something around 80 then maybe around 160, hard way. Or maybe try a palm sander with the same method

[CopeMan85]

im about to do the same with the chrome on plastic shown here on my grille.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p137/cainalan/2011-02-28140406.jpg

From what ive read on here, first wet sand all the shiny crap off with 400. im guessing its black plastic underneath so you will know when its gone. then im gonna hit it with filler primer, probably from duplicolor (following directions on can) then hit it with the dupli color GM matched black, then clear coat..... its gonna take a while....

[Andrew.]

It would be alot easier to just scuff it up a bit. Hit it with a red scotchbrite then use a bit of adhesion promoter. If your that adamant about striping the chrome, use a straight edge razor and cut through it on the edge, then slowly make small sweeping motions between the grill and plastic. Once you get a big enough roll going put on some gloves and start pulling on it yourself and it'll strip right off.

What you'll be left with is a W/T grill that is smooth, and will have to be scuffed to let the paint stick. I say just paint the chrome, its what I did about 2 years ago and it held up fine.

Scuffed with 400 gritt.
Red scotchbrite
Adhesion promoter
Filler primer
Sand with 600
Paint
Clear.

http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq335/mech08h/Vehicles/My%20Truck/SideNew2.jpg


From what ive read on here, first wet sand all the shiny crap off with 400. im guessing its black plastic underneath so you will know when its gone. then im gonna hit it with filler primer, probably from duplicolor (following directions on can) then hit it with the dupli color GM matched black, then clear coat..... its gonna take a while....

its going to take you HOURS to wetsand the chrome off. If you want to sand it off, use a large grit paper, and just go to town. Wetsanding will take way to long.

Like I said..painting over the chrome works if you prep it right. If you want to peel the chrome off, use a razor blade and do this.

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l84/trilogyz28/CHROMETRICK2.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l84/trilogyz28/CHROMETRICK3.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l84/trilogyz28/CHROMETRICK5.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l84/trilogyz28/CHROMETRICK1.jpg

[CopeMan85]

is the adhesion promoter really necessary or is just a precaution? im not expert thats why im asking, i really don't want to fvck mine up or have to do it again in 6 monthss. yours looks damn good though. what brands of paint/primer etc did you use?

[lowbravada]

so on my mirror caps I can just scuff it with scotchbrite pads then spray it

[Andrew.]

is the adhesion promoter really necessary or is just a precaution? im not expert thats why im asking, i really don't want to fvck mine up or have to do it again in 6 monthss. yours looks damn good though. what brands of paint/primer etc did you use?

its not truely necessary. I just like to use it on things I paint to double and triple make sure the paint sticks.

For prepping I scuffed it up with 600 grit (didnt remove the chrome) and then used a red scotchbrite. Rattle canned some adhesion promoter then primer (total of 3 coats). Wetsanded in between coats until it was smooth as glass.

I got the local paint supply store to mix up some paint match colour paint in a spray balm and applied 2 or 3 light coats. Light coats are better then 1 heavy. Waited 24Hrs for it to dry, then applied clear.

I used the same process for my mirror caps and tailgate bezel. Can get you pictures of those if you wish too.


so on my mirror caps I can just scuff it with scotchbrite pads then spray it

Are they chrome, or have texture? If they are chrome, and have a straight blade around you will be able to peel the chrome off in one big sheet.

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l84/trilogyz28/CHROMETRICK33.jpg

If they are textured, take a sheet of 600 to them to get the texture out. Then go over that with 320. Spray some filler primer, and wetsand in between, then hit with colour of choice and clear.


EDIT: Just a heads up...painting is probably about 90% prep, 10% painting. It takes alot of patience prepping, sanding, smoothing, waiting for things to dry etc. If you see something in the material, it will only be amplified by the paint. Things can be rattle canned, and they can turn out good with proper steps.

If you are nervous about the painting process itself. Prep the pieces as best you can. Scuff/Prime/Sand etc, and drop them off at a body shop. When I went and got my full mirror, valance and flares colourmatched, I scuffed, primed, sanded them myself and dropped them off at a body shop. Cost me $150 and they turned out great. Saved me time worrying, and I know they will last.

[lowbravada]

Thanks I think I will peel the chrome off sand them and take them to my buddy to paint

[lowbravada]

do I need an adhesion promoter if I scuff them

[badcritter]

I know this might sound weird but it would work and possibly save a **** ton of time but find something big enough to put your grille in and buy 6 to 8 jugs of castrol super clean and pour in full strength. that stuff eats the chrome off!!! and you can always rebottle that stuff up and reuse it. It works really good around the house and garage for other things. I think you can get a gallon for 10 bucks. Walmart is always the cheapest. then all you would have to do is scuff it up with a scotch brite pad and prime and paint.

[Stratosman]

just scuff it and go, adhesion promoter is recommended on plastic, I did my front end that way

[rocking chevy]

I used a small propane torch to bubble up my grill, then peeled it all off.
after I bubbled it up.
http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m616/Austin_Jacobs/other%20vehicles/Chevygrill.jpg
here is it all almost peeled off
http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m616/Austin_Jacobs/other%20vehicles/IMG_0097.jpg
http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m616/Austin_Jacobs/other%20vehicles/IMG_0121.jpg
It does leave it kind of rough, so you will have to sand it smooth.
and dont get it to hot or you will melt it

[Lloyd21]

lot of good info here thanks