willysmjeeps.com

I'VE GOT A GOOD WORKING SET OF ALLSTATE (SEARS)
LOCKING HUBS. TROUBLE IS THE HOUSINGS ARE CHROME.
ANY IDEAS FOR DE-CHROMING??

buffer !!

There are plate stripping kits available, but not cheap! This old post on the forum should pretty much do the same job:

http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... pic&t=4714

If the chrome plating is damaged, you could try sandblasting or dipping in a caustic soda solution.

Another option would be to take the hubs to a re-chroming vendor; they should have a facility for removing chrome plating (probably hydrochloric acid).......

Rgds,
Owen.

OWEN, ARE YOU SAYING THAT ELECTROLISIS WILL REMOVE CHROME??

That's how they put it on. Why not?

According to the vendors over here in the UK, the plate stripping kits are "electrolytic stripping tanks", like this one:

http://www.frost.co.uk/automotive-elect ... g-kit.html

This one says it works on 'old & damaged plating', so I don't know how it would work with a pristine chrome finish. For the sake of knocking up a DIY electrolysis bath, I think it's worth a try. I'm guessing your hubs are steel (not aluminium), so it should work ok.......

Rgds,
Owen.

THANKS, OWEN. THESE HUBS ARE FROM THE 1960'S AND THE
CHROME IS NOT QUITE "PRISTINE". I HAVE A DYI ELECTROLYTIC
OUTFIT MADE FROM A 5 GAL PLASTIC PAIL.. I'LL GIVE IT A TRY..

Do you want to take the chrome off just to get a good base for painting them? Have you tried bead blasting them? I think that if the chrome is on solid, the blasted finish would be good for paint and you don't need to go down to base metal.

I browsed around a bit and came up with some solutions others have used:

If you go the electrolytic + sodium hydroxide route, you end up creating some nasty chemicals (at least that's my understanding):

http://www.finishing.com/267/91.shtml wrote:Please be aware that this process will leave you with a vat full of hexavalent chromium in solution -- the toxic stuff that made Erin Brokovich famous.

Even then, if your chrome has nickel underneath it, that will remain.

If you use hydrochloric (muriatic) acid, and your base material is aluminum instead of steel, you can say goodbye to that aluminum! It's a bit of a undesirable reaction in your case... Some people still suggest it in forums though! (See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up-8cgx6P9k for a video. There's a lot of explanation, but if you just want the action, jump to 6:30.)

Washing soda electrolysis should be safe, although I'm not sure how effective. Perhaps it will get in there and loosen up any stuff under the chrome and make removal easier?

My vote would be for abrasive removal, especially since it sounds like you'll be painting them anyway. Thankfully, ours were just painted and bead blasting made quick work of the cleanup.