Bleach on Fake Chrome What to Use to Bring It Back to Life

braik [OP] Well-Known Member

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I know most people that have done the BHLM or retrofitted know this little trick, but for those who haven't yet, it's a life saver.
The chrome on the inside of your headlights is a bitch to get off. Between the curves and crevices and angles it's hard to get a sanding cloth in there to remove all the chrome layer. Acetone will work, brake fluid will work, and so will paint stripper. But these methods require lots of scrubbing and patience, or you may end up melting the plastic too. Bleach takes the chrome off, and leaves the plastic alone.

What you will need:
1. One plastic tub, about 16x12x6.
2. About 4 gal of concentrated bleach.
3. Chrome pieces.
4. Some rubber gloves.

Plastic tub

Fill it with bleach

Take out the little black plastic alignment screw holders. Shouldn't cause any harm if you leave them on, but I didn't want to risk it since it such a simple thing to get off.

Put in your chromed pieces and leave them until the chrome is completely stripped off. The first 2 reflector bowls and bezel were done within an hour. The last bezel took a whole day to strip off. It may have been that the chrome on that piece was adhered better, or that the bleach lost its effectiveness after de-chromeing the other pieces. Regardless, here's what it looks like after

Not a super in depth DIY, but it would've been nice to have/know when I was retrofitting for the first time.
Thanx for the tip , going to do bHLM soon.
braik [OP] Well-Known Member

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Hey! I did help somebody!
I also heard it leaves the original primer intact. I don't really know if what I'm looking at is the primer, but it leaves it nice and shiny that's for sure.
LUSETACO Here for the Taco Pron

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Back in my model building days I used to use oven cleaner to strip te chrome off parts. That may be another option as well.
braik [OP] Well-Known Member

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I had heard that if you leave it to set with that stuff too long it will melt the plastic. That true?
LUSETACO Here for the Taco Pron

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I never had a problem with it melting the plastic.
o0oSHADOWo0o Just lurking in the darkness

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Just a few LEDs...

Hey, I just had an idea...
Since July 4th is right around the corner, how about putting some of the chromed parts in the microwave. That should take the chrome off and make some fireworks too!

Just kidding obviously. Thanks for the info on the bleach though.
NolaTaco42 Well-Known Member

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unlewser Well-Known Member

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anyone else try this method?
Aw9d That one guy

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What I've always done is oven cleaner. Doesn't damage plastics at all.

Spray oven cleaner
let it sit for 20-30 min
wipe it off then rinse it off

No more chrome. Will not damage any plastics. I do this all the time when I paint shrouds for retrofit projects.
Boerseun Well-Known Member

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No, but I sure am going to find something chrome to de-chrome this week-end.
Have to try it!

Come to think of it; I have a Ford Explorer (company vehicle) as a daily driver. I had some bugs and stuff on the front that I could not get off, so I tried all kinds of different cleaners, including bleach and BBQ grill cleaner. Some of the chrome started pealing off. I since Plasti-dipped it and it looks so much better than the chrome grill. The only Explorer in our fleet with a black grill .