What is the Best Way to Remove the Chrome Off Tools

[ArtS]

On one of the other posts were were talking about Tandy tools and the chrome spoiling the impression. Someone mentioned burning off the chrome.

My first question is - how do you burn it off?

My second question - is that the best way to remove the chrome?

Thanks,

Art

[Rawhide]

  ArtS said:

On one of the other posts were were talking about Tandy tools and the chrome spoiling the impression. Someone mentioned burning off the chrome.

My first question is - how do you burn it off?

My second question - is that the best way to remove the chrome?

Thanks,

Art

I asked Peter Main this question a while back and he said that he heats them up with a mini torch til cherry red (in a vise of course), and then wire brushes the chrome off, then cool in water. He also said that he doesn't trust the newer craftools to do this with, cause he doesn't know what they are made with.

Edited April 16, 2009 by Rawhide

[NoahL]

Unless you have a well-ventilated area in which to attempt this, I wouldn't try it. In my adventures into bladesmithing, I learned of a very dangerous, and sometimes deadly condition known as "forge fever". If you heat up stainless/galvanized steel without proper ventilation, the gasses released can induce this illness.

[ChuckBurrows]

You can soak in muriatic acid (aka hydrochloric) for a while and it will dissolve the chrome (when first doing this keep a close eye - check every 15 minutes - too long and the tool can be damaged). Do this in a VERY WELL ventilated area and DO NOT breath the fumes. I do this outside with a fan blowing the fumes away along with a good painters mask - get the proper filters.....with proper precautions it is safe and sane.......

[jbird]

Well I can I agree with Noah I just spent all day over my forge and the fumes can be bad.

Josh

  NoahL said:

Unless you have a well-ventilated area in which to attempt this, I wouldn't try it. In my adventures into bladesmithing, I learned of a very dangerous, and sometimes deadly condition known as "forge fever". If you heat up stainless/galvanized steel without proper ventilation, the gasses released can induce this illness.

[tonyc1]

  ChuckBurrows said:

You can soak in muriatic acid (aka hydrochloric) for a while and it will dissolve the chrome (when first doing this keep a close eye - check every 15 minutes - too long and the tool can be damaged). Do this in a VERY WELL ventilated area and DO NOT breath the fumes. I do this outside with a fan blowing the fumes away along with a good painters mask - get the proper filters.....with proper precautions it is safe and sane.......

Is muriatic acid what is otherwise known as soldering fluid?

Tony.

[badger]

The best and safest way without a doubt, is to take them to your nearest electroplating company and have them 'unplated'.

Basically reverse the chrome plating process.

Badger

[mendedbowl]

just buying better tools is beginning to look cheaper (and safer) all the time.

those of you who have removed chrome from the cheaper tools...were the final results worth the effort?

ken

[CitizenKate]

  mendedbowl said:

just buying better tools is beginning to look cheaper (and safer) all the time.

those of you who have removed chrome from the cheaper tools...were the final results worth the effort?

ken

I've used the propane torch/steel brush method on some Craftools I bought a few years ago (2004 or so). It did improve the clarity of the impression it made, somewhat. The tradeoff is, the underlying metal is quite soft, so heavy use will eventually cause the face of the tool to lose its shape over time. I'll have to replace the ones I removed the chrome from sooner than the ones I didn't.

In the long run, it's probably better to leave the plate on.

Kate

[King's X]

I know that my novice opinion does not mean much in world circles, but I have been using my crafttools for the past 2 years since I started this craft. For me I wanted to get things right before I spent a whole lot of money on equipment. Plus the buy one get one was not a bad deal when it comes to building up your tools. I have progressed in my new hobby and now I am trading out my crafttools for better made tools like Ellis Barnes and Barry King. But I go into buying these tools with the knowledge of what I am looking for not just "I want that one" and "I want this one."

I would suggest you either work with what you got (crafttools) and then progress to better tools as times goes by or if you're rich, buy them all.

I don't have the experience or knowledge to even attempt anything you have guys (& ladies) have suggested here. I would be the one that you would read about in tomorrows paper.....Man dies after trying to remove chrome.

But, I will close this reply with "you get what you pay for!"

Good luck.