stripping a chrome bumper?

[jcjcsoccerkid]

so im not a fan of chrome....and my front bumper on my 98 is chrome and i hate it. i wanna strip it down and paint it gray to match my truck. either that or black. ill probably do it both to see which i like better, and then keep the better one. anyway, can i use a grinder and a wire wheel? or will that aircraft paint remover take it off? any other suggestions are welcome

[ScottXGTR]

im also interesting in dechroming some bumpers.

from reading around on the interwebz im getting mixed results from multiple sources.

the best way is supposedly to take it to a chrome shop and have it dechromed. im pretty sure thats gonna take time, and be more than i want to pay. not to mention the nearest chrome shop i can find is in jackson, ms.

ive heard sandblasting works, but its very slow and by the time you are done the metal isnt in very good shape and needs to be surfaced before paint.

read one article that said you can strip it chemically but the chemicals(muriatic acid) didnt sould like anything i would want to fuck with, and the resulting chemical solution is toxic and needs to be disposed of properly.

im thinking along the same lines as you. a lot of time and elbow grease behind a wire wheel then a good clean, prime, and paint. not sure what type of wire wheel to start with tho. im a few weeks out from starting my bumper so ill have to get back with you.

[Mr.Ryan]

I have had good results with just a gentle sand blasting then some primer sealer then paint, 3 years since my last one and the paint is still sticking no chips or nothing, just degrease it before blasting or all the chrome polish and wax gets embedded into the metal.

[jimmy726]

i thought you could just buy a black paint able off of ebay. And if you dont want to couldnt you just do a light sanding on the chrome and then paint. Im just asking i really dont know about the light sanding. But i am almost positive i saw a 1 piece on ebay that was black

[asphaltsurfin98]

Mine was chrome at one point, i just hite that shit with 50 grit on a air grinder and spayed it with K- 36 (high build primer) sanded with 180 and primed again. Paint has been on there 3 years with no probs now

[jcjcsoccerkid]

jimmy...i dont feel like spending any unnecessary money lol....i wanna use the one i have

asphaltsurfin.....how long did it take you. i have a nice makita grinder i barely get to use. could i put a 50 grit flap disc on it and go to town?

[lil_redd_again]

thats what I was thinking, flapper disk that shit down being careful to not dig into too much in any one place and then yea some HBP and youre gtg

[hunglow]

im also interesting in dechroming some bumpers.

from reading around on the interwebz im getting mixed results from multiple sources.

the best way is supposedly to take it to a chrome shop and have it dechromed. im pretty sure thats gonna take time, and be more than i want to pay. not to mention the nearest chrome shop i can find is in jackson, ms.

ive heard sandblasting works, but its very slow and by the time you are done the metal isnt in very good shape and needs to be surfaced before paint.

read one article that said you can strip it chemically but the chemicals(muriatic acid) didnt sould like anything i would want to fuck with, and the resulting chemical solution is toxic and needs to be disposed of properly.

im thinking along the same lines as you. a lot of time and elbow grease behind a wire wheel then a good clean, prime, and paint. not sure what type of wire wheel to start with tho. im a few weeks out from starting my bumper so ill have to get back with you.




I work at a chrome shop in mesa az...Muriatic acid is some shit that does have to be disposed of properly. Like everyone else has said in this thread as long as you get a good sand on the bumper you should be alright. I would make sure to not stay in one spot because you could put a low spot in your bumper. I have always had all my stuff stripped at the shop, but thats because I get it for dirt cheap. To grind down bumpers my guys do use flapper discs.

Hope that helps a little

[asphaltsurfin98]

jimmy...i dont feel like spending any unnecessary money lol....i wanna use the one i have

asphaltsurfin.....how long did it take you. i have a nice makita grinder i barely get to use. could i put a 50 grit flap disc on it and go to town?

I worked on it, off and on for about a day. But I do body work for a living so I had ever thing I needed at work. You will need a primer gun , a good high build primer, sand paper and that is about it. Did you ever get your cowl to stop cracking?

[Mr.Ryan]

if you use the flap disk don't use 60 grit use the 120-180 grit since your using the grinder the 60 would zing right into the metal all you need is a good scuff on it to make the primer stick.

[layinframe]

I got a small sand blaster. Scotty or Aaron if ya wanna come up one Saturday we could blast it at my shop

[jcjcsoccerkid]

hell yea andy lets do that, how much would you charge?

[layinframe]

You buy the sand.

[asphaltsurfin98]

Let us know how it comes out

[NissanXEPilot]

I work at a chrome shop in mesa az...Muriatic acid is some shit that does have to be disposed of properly. Like everyone else has said in this thread as long as you get a good sand on the bumper you should be alright. I would make sure to not stay in one spot because you could put a low spot in your bumper. I have always had all my stuff stripped at the shop, but thats because I get it for dirt cheap. To grind down bumpers my guys do use flapper discs.

Hope that helps a little

A low spot, and if you get it too hot by staying in one spot can also cause the metal to slightly warp. I sanded down my bumper using a DA sander and 80 grit paper and followed up with 120 grit paper.

[jcjcsoccerkid]

andy- how much sand do i need?

[Mr.Ryan]

A 25 pound bag of sand is plenty especially if you do this over a concrete slab you can sweep it up sift it and reuse it.

[tis10w]

the acid works i was told it was in vinigar and you ca get it from a pool shop or sumthing