"Chrome" removal

[Czar]

I have the #12 BMW Z4 with the green chrome paint. Is there any way to remove the "chrome" so it can be repainted?

[TsgtRet]

My suggestion would be to find someone on HRW that has different livery of the same car and swap bodies, then they get something special and you can use "conventional" stripping methods. Just my :twocents-mytwocents:

[loosewheel]

Oven cleaner always works for me. I agree the green is pretty hideous.

[adamzak]

I stripped a chrome cheetah body using muriatic acid. It took about two days of soaking, took all the chrome off. Wear rubber gloves and wear eye protection when using this stuff.

[chappyman66]

For those that don't know.......muriatic acid is hydrochloric acid. It's used for etching concrete, among other things. It can be used, but the advice to use rubber gloves and eye protection is right on. Don't mess with it without protection.

[Fumey]

[waaytoomuchintothis]

Take that to heart about muratic. You make it by diluting HCl with water (not much), and use it commonly to remove stubborn vine and ivy rootlets from brick walls that are not where a sand blaster is appropriate. That's how strong it is, it takes a layer off a brick wall. Fumes and spray flecks can blind you in less than a second.

I have to say, I think that BMW emerald chrome paint is gorgeous (and exactly 1:1 realistic). I wouldn't strip that if it meant I had to sell the car and buy another. I had to go check and see if that was the car you were talking about.

[Czar]

Thank you for your warnings, but I used to manage a community swimming pool and I am well aware of the dangers of muriatic acid. I am really surprised that muriatic acid doesn't cause problems with the plastic - at least making it brittle like brake fluid does. Yeah, I was stupid enough to try to strip a car with brake fluid. (I read about it on the internet!) The body shattered into a thousand little pieces. I will try to trade, but I will give the Super Clean a test with some old wheels. Thanks for all the fine information (as always).

[mfogg]

...

[Czar]

It's definitely plated. A Slot.it magnet will stick to the roof! I'll try the bleach bath first

[waaytoomuchintothis]

I'm glad this got started. Folks get a lot of instructional info here, and this is something that definitely does come up once in a while. Warnings about dangerous stuff makes a big step toward everything HRW is established to do.