removing chrome from Salvinos Jr parts

[t/adave]

I recently purchased a Asphalt modified from Salvinos Jr ( Wes's model car corner) and was very surprised by the poor quality of the parts. Lots of flash and a large number of dimpled parts. My biggest surprise however came when I attempted to strip the chrome from the valve covers. They were so dimpled that the only choice was to strip, putty, and paint them or to replace them with items from the parts box. I soaked the valve covers in oven cleaner as I usually do to remove the chrome, but it had no effect on them. I attempted to sand the chrome with 320 grit sandpaper and still have not been able to get to raw plastic so I can putty and paint them.
Has anyone else run into this issue and do you have any tips to remove the chrome specifically from Salvino's Jrs kits ?
PS. I guess I'm spoiled from building kits from Tamiya, Hasegawa, etc. and now I remember why I've avoided domestic kits. I shouldn't condemn all domestic kits but holy crap, if this is an example of what we're offering to the modeling public our hobby is in big trouble.

 

[Belugawrx]

Nope..found out it's made just like a real bumper..copper coated and chromed with chrome..
Nothing will take it off
I ended grinding with a diamond Dremel bit and filling with Tamiya putty and sanding...terrible idea from Salvino's

 

[t/adave]

Thank you for your reply. After reading your response I decided to cut a piece of the chrome and sure enough you are 100% correct. There have been times when I had wished for more durable chrome pieces but never expected this. I guess the old saying is appropriate in this case, "Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it".

 

[Belugawrx]

Someone on another car forum just informed everyone that if you leave it a tub of hydrochloric acid for 10 days it will come off...uh ..no thanks

 

[stevethefish]

I can usually have luck soaking parts in Coca-Cola. It's slower, but gentler than using bleach. Hasegawa makes a chrome stripper liquid, but that's probably not easy to come by outside of Japan.

 

[airdave]

Did you know drinking Bleach is safer than Coca Cola?
Swimming pools, tap water, etc, whereas Coke sends you to the Dentist and the Doctor. lol

I have been using bleach to soak off plastic chrome.
I keep a plastic peanut butter jar (has a wide neck opening) with some bleach in it.

Drop in the part(s) swish them around, and within seconds the chrome is coming off.
Sometimes you may need up to 30 minutes for it to get all the nooks and crevices.
Although I have left parts overnight with no visible effect to the plastic part.

Obviously you want to try to avoid directly inhaling the bleach
and work inside a large tub or sink so theres no chance of spilling on your clothes.
(I work in my deep laundry sink in the workshop/laundry room)

I don't know what kind of chrome you are dealing with, but it's still attached to plastic (isn't it?).
You may not be able to dissolve it, but you only need to break the bond.

 

[the Baron]

For chromed styrene, I use SuperClean, the automotive de-greaser. I used this on the chromed sprues in the Monogram Tom Daniels Red Baron hot rod; I wanted the bare styrene, to clean up seams, sprue gates, etc, when assembling. It took the thin layer of chrome off in 2 minutes. I watched the chrome dissolve into the solution. The active ingredient is lye, as with oven cleaners. The advantage over oven cleaners, though, is that you can use a batch of SuperClean more than once. I use it to strip paint, too, and I fill glass jars of various sizes as baths to soak pieces. And it has household use, too. At about nine bucks a gallon at Walmart, it appeals to my frugal PA Dutchy senses.

I've never worked with a Salvino's Jr kit, though, and from your description, I'm not sure that SuperClean would remove that chrome. Or it might, but it would take much longer than with styrene, resin, or white metal. But I can recommend it otherwise.

Best regards,
Brad

 

[PatW]

I use non toxic Oven Pride oven cleaner!