lcgeek
Glad to meet you!
Anyone dechromed oem rims and then had the aluminum polished? Just wondering if the dechroming would rough up the aluminum so as to make it difficult to polish and look good.
Dechroming stock chrome wheels (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter lcgeek
- Start date
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Which wheels are chrome?
I just used scotch brite, self etch primer, vht wheel paint and clear. When they scratch I spray it and baam done.
Edit. Stripper will not remove chrome. Better get the sandblaster fired up
I just used scotch brite, self etch primer, vht wheel paint and clear. When they scratch I spray it and baam done.
Edit. Stripper will not remove chrome. Better get the sandblaster fired up
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I've always wondered if this was even possible. Stripper won't touch chrome, and since the chrome is much harder than the aluminum, any abrasive will remove a lot of the wheel itself.
mudgudgeon
Resident galah
Are they definitely alloy wheels? Can alloy wheels even be chromed? Can't say I remember seeing chrome plated alloys
If they are alloy, I doubt you'd successfully remove chrome and be left with something that can be polished.
If they are alloy, I doubt you'd successfully remove chrome and be left with something that can be polished.
As I understand it, when chrome plating aluminum there is a heavy plating of copper that is first put on the aluminum and then buffed out before the chrome platting is done. Getting both the Chrome and Copper off would likely be some time sand blasting. I would probably just try and trade them for some non-chrome plated wheels. There are people that like the bling.
Or just scuff them up and paint silver, clear.
lcgeek
Glad to meet you!
- Thread starter
- #7
I assume the 95-97 FZJ80 in US came with two wheel types, both alloy, one chromed and the other not (thank goodness). Other geographies had steel wheel OEM option I believe. In any case, I have some chrome ones but the chrome is pitted and in some places flaking/peeling. I heard not even blasting would not adequately remove and best option was taking to a plating shop and they could reverse the chroming process to take it off. Just wondering if any had done it before and what was result, as I've also heard removing the chrome chemically leaves them rough to polishing.
Perhaps @scottryana suggestion to just find other wheels is a good one.
Perhaps @scottryana suggestion to just find other wheels is a good one.
then bondo, if you're up for the labor 
I have the chrome package on my truck and I have done a lot of work trying to reclaim my chrome wheels.
The Chrome wheels were a DEALER option. My truck has chrome exterior mirrors, chrome door handles, chrome damage multiplier, and chrome wheels.
Unfortunately, living in the Midwest, the salt has killed the chrome on the wheels and they are peeling BAD! I now have one wheel (spare) that is losing air because the chrome is peeling under the bead of the tire.
I wanted to get them re-chromed, but the chromers will NOT de-chrrome and re-chrome MY aluminum wheels because they are too pitted since mine are already peeling.
They WILL chrome a set of clean, blasted wheels if you want a set of chrome factory wheels.
I happen to have connections at a chrome shop and I COULD get them to de-chrome them in the same process as it takes to chrome them (they reverse the polarity), however, mine are so pitted that the surface will show through anyway.
I have decided to buy another set of wheels, have them bead blasted, and I will polish them to "chrome" look like what big trucks do. I have a set of LX wheels in my garage that are already blasted and awaiting some trim paint and polishing.
Sandblasting will eat the aluminum too much because the chrome is MUCH harder than the aluminum.
Just chuck the old chrome ones and find a new set to do with what you want.
The Chrome wheels were a DEALER option. My truck has chrome exterior mirrors, chrome door handles, chrome damage multiplier, and chrome wheels.
Unfortunately, living in the Midwest, the salt has killed the chrome on the wheels and they are peeling BAD! I now have one wheel (spare) that is losing air because the chrome is peeling under the bead of the tire.
I wanted to get them re-chromed, but the chromers will NOT de-chrrome and re-chrome MY aluminum wheels because they are too pitted since mine are already peeling.
They WILL chrome a set of clean, blasted wheels if you want a set of chrome factory wheels.
I happen to have connections at a chrome shop and I COULD get them to de-chrome them in the same process as it takes to chrome them (they reverse the polarity), however, mine are so pitted that the surface will show through anyway.
I have decided to buy another set of wheels, have them bead blasted, and I will polish them to "chrome" look like what big trucks do. I have a set of LX wheels in my garage that are already blasted and awaiting some trim paint and polishing.
Sandblasting will eat the aluminum too much because the chrome is MUCH harder than the aluminum.
Just chuck the old chrome ones and find a new set to do with what you want.
I sold mine to a guy that wanted the chrome look.
I heard once that chrome wheels was a port option, along with the 'towing package', alarm, and other options. Seems hard to believe they'd pull the wheels, tires, dip 'em and reinstall, but it would help explain why chrome 80 wheels have such a problem with peeling.
inkpot
SILVER Star
The chrome is applied theu electrolysis and can be removed thru similar process, although usually expensive and very toxic. Takes a lot of prep to make paint stick to chrome well for long term. I would just trade/shop for another set of wheels that are more friendly to whatever your plans are.
