chrome triggerguard

[whitebear]

I have a brass planes rifle triggerguard that someone chrome plated.  It's a nice shape and I will need one in the future but how do I remove the chrome plating?
I know that I can buy a new one that is very similar but I would like to remove the chrome from this one if practical.

[Bart]

You can use mureatic acid to remove the chrome plating, under that there should be some copper plating; you can sand that off, it should be very thin depending on the plating process. You will need to soak the guard in the acid for a while for this to work. Hope this helps.

Bart

[valongrifles]

I would try electrolysis to REMOVE plating. You just hook up the electrodes backwards from plating positions. All the metal other than steel or iron should go to the sacrifice electrode.

[dannybb55]

Doesn't chrome add Horse power, I mean Velocity?

[wetzel]

Would sandblasting it take it off?

[billd]

Why don't you just sell it to someone who wants to pimp out their flintlock?

Bill

[Bennypapa]

I don't think "Overhaulin" has an episode for flintlocks yet. Maybe you could sell them the rights to the idea! 

[Acer Saccharum]

Sure it's chrome? Nickel could be a possibility.

Chrome won't sand off easily, the electro process for reverse plating is worth trying.

Or just buy a brass guard in the same pattern.

Tom

[bgf]

If it is really chrome, seems like a shame in more ways than one -- it must have cost some time and money to do.  Maybe you should sell it to someone (it is a novelty, and there would probably be a buyer) and buy a plain one? 

[JDK]

I concur.  Chrome is not easily removed.  Saw cars old cars out west that sand had completely blasted the paint off over the years and the chrome still was bright.  I also, at one time, raided an old hardware store for all the flat and oval head screws I could carry and in started soaking them in acid to remove the plating.  There was a small box of screws oval head wood screws made in Europe somewhere, can't remember where, and the acid didn't touch the plating.  I couldn't believe it so soaked them and soaked them and they are still plated....I still have 'em.  Side note, this acid was strong enough HCL to reduce cast iron quickly.  J.D.

[FRJ]

Chrome is some very hard stuff. Take it to a plating shop and have it removed. Shouldnt cost a whole lot more than buying a new one. Frank

[Daryl]

I'd pitch it and buy the correct guard.