De-Chroming Bronze

[chinita]

My (cica 1963) chrome plated bronze deck fittings are looking pretty tired.

I was thinking of sending them to http://www.ashfordchroming.com/ to be stripped and returned to their basic bronze.

Wondered if anybody had been through this process and whether they were pleased with the result.

 

[RichardTaylor]

The Chrome will almost certainly have been "flashed" over a nickel base coating. Nickel from memory was a pain to strip back and will inevitably mean the bronze will suffer some etching, which will need polishing out.

IMO talk to your local Chrome refinishers (ones which have a good reputation with the local car and bike restoration guys) and take their advice, but IMO it would probably be easier and cheaper to re-nickel and chrome the fittings (just make sure the thicknesses of the metal being deposited is good for long term durability)

 

[Norman_E]

Ashford Chroming quoted me to strip and re-chrome some bronze parts. It was pretty expensive and most of the cost was just the stripping. It is no good just re-chroming if you want a good result. In fact if the parts had been available they would have cost considerably less than the price of stripping and re-chroming the old ones.

 

[chinita]

Thanks for that guys.

I was hoping to just strip and let the bronze develop a nice verdigris.

I will take some photos and send to Ashford just to see what they quote.

 

[dunmor]

Thanks for that guys.

I was hoping to just strip and let the bronze develop a nice verdigris.

I will take some photos and send to Ashford just to see what they quote.

you can strip it yourself with a battery and a bucket of salt water, have done it my self. can take a long time if the chrome is really thick.

 

[chinita]

you can strip it yourself with a battery and a bucket of salt water, have done it my self. can take a long time if the chrome is really thick.

Fascinating, please expand!

 

[ripvan1]

hi i got mine back from polishers last week, i be well chuffed - back to bronze - will never be showroom condition but boat is 52 years old and they're original and lots of them - took to finishers and got 3 quotes - back to bronze 80, same with polishing circa 300, or rechromed iirc 450 - settled for dechroming only, looked awful when they came back dull and finely shot blasted look - mate works in metal shop and gave him 50 to find apprentice to do during lunch - no hurry to get them back so good result - will post pics manana eve -

 

[dunmor]

Fascinating, please expand!

connect live to object being stripped, attach bolt to earth hang opposite sides of bucket with salt water in it. put a small bulb on earth side this will
stop the battery getting hot. i had better results using a batt charger. keep a close eye on it. when the chrome is removed it will then start to remove the
softer metals out of the bronze.

 

[ripvan1]

chinita, late in and knackered tonight so manana becomes manana

 

[chinita]

No hurry

 

[nigelmercier]

I will take some photos and send to Ashford just to see what they quote.

Prepare yourself for a shock. The outboard on my dinghy sits on a removable chromed cage with a flat panel on it. Over time it rusted, so I got a replacement, still unused.
I figured I'd get it re-chromed before I used it. Their quote: £480 + VAT - that's twice the cost of the entire dinghy!

 

[Tradewinds]

Lewmar used to recommend Neptune Plating in Bristol for re-chroming.

Neptune Plating Ltd.
Barton Manor
Bristol
BS2 0RL
Tel: 0117-955-2041

Probably more cost-effective to buy new & sell the old ones on eBay.

 

[ripvan1]

Chinita, received these back from polisher after flaking chrome removal

+ a load more

 

[chinita]

Thanks Ripvan. Have sent a pm.

 

[ripvan1]

Hi Chinita, here is a photo taken after collecting from strippers - if you can zoom in you will notice an almost shotblasted look to them - this is what is polished out with various compounds and different mops. I don't think this will verdigris nicely because of the fine pitting.

 

[chinita]

Hmmm, thanks.

I am veering more and more towards replacing with new - or at least second hand original bronze.

No particular rush, thankfully.

 

[theguerns]

chrome stripping

Thanks for that guys.

I was hoping to just strip and let the bronze develop a nice verdigris.

I will take some photos and send to Ashford just to see what they quote.

DOnt laugh you can strip chrome of fittings by submersing them in tomatoe sauce