chrome removal

[RandyA]

whats the best way you gentlemen have found too remove the old rust and chrome on the headlight bezels?? I don't have access to a bead blaster...Thanks.....

[Matto]

A good wire wheel on a 3450 RPM bench grinder or moter spindle works good for small parts like that. You absolutely have to wear safety glasses because the bristles come off like bullets. A right angle grinder with wire wheel works good on larger stuff.

[macrisel]

Ditto on the wire wheel.  Make sure you wear gloves also as the part can get pretty hot if you are not careful.  You can also take it to a chrome shop and have it chemically stripped.  However, I replaced my chrome rings on my jeep with repro ones from Walcks.  Good quality and fit and they didn't cost too much either.

[rocketeer]

And do not breathe the chrome dust. Wear a qualified respirator. While it's never a good idea to breathe in any grinder dust there are three metals commonly found when working on a vehicle that constitute a real toxic health hazard; Zinc, Chrome, and Cadmium.

Larry

[Matto]

Thanks for the heads up on the chrome dust Larry. I had no idea it was any worse than steel. I know welding galvanized steel produces toxic fumes and I also remember hearing somthing about welding parts that were sprayed with brake cleaner producing Phosgene gas, same stuff they used in WW1 chemical weapons.
 

[RandyA]

Thanks all, I am going too try and de-chrome in the AM...

[CRT]

I have cleaned up some slightly rusted chrome parts in the past by using water and SOS braille pads.  

[Gunslinger]

I used a product called FLITZ to polish my chrome, it worked very well and leaves a dark blue lustre.  Mine was not rusted, just a little pitted so I think that makes a difference.