EXT: DE-Chroming / Painting Emblems

[casterX]

most car manufactures use a 2 step electro plating for making their emblems. base copper and the chrome like finish is aluminum with the emblem itself made of plastic. knowing that and some experience in leaving some dental instruments in a bleach bath. i decided to take on this project.


Why de-chrome emblems before painting?
because however you scuff the chrome surface, it's still not enough for the paint to adhere to. thus, paint would easily chip off..

WHAT YOU NEED:
-bleach
-plastic basin
-scouring pad
-dishwashing detergent
-paint


1. fill the basin with bleach and drop in your emblem.
(LET IT SIT OUTDOORS OR IN A WELL VENTILATED ROOM)



2. in a few hours, your bleach bath with the emblem in it should look like this..



3. after 24hrs. the bleach bath seemed saturated already(i'm no chemist). so i changed the solution with a fresh one.

4. after 48hrs. the emblem is almost stripped off of its electroplated metals. i changed the solution once again and let it sit for another 12hrs.

5. after 60hrs. with the emblem completely stripped off of its electroplated metals, clean it with the scouring pad and detergent on running water.



6. let it dry and you are now ready for paint..



comments, suggestions, questions.. post it up

[accordaffair]

This might explain why I never had luck painting my H emblem, it kept pitting, but the primer looked great....

[Gee92]

Hey that was some great sh that answer why my paint never stick, so have you had any problem with the paint coming off.

[low92]

Good write up, Got something else I can try now

[Gemini]

You learn something new everyday

[93accordexcoupe]

that was one dirty emblem

[casterX]

that was one dirty emblem

after 60hrs in a bleach bath.. not anymore..

[cooneyb81]

hmm, i should do this to the chrome on my grill, i've painted it twice now and the paint just wont stick, any little bugs or rocks just chip it right off

I've had the same problem, this is something that would have been good to know a while back

[casterX]

hmm, i should do this to the chrome on my grill, i've painted it twice now and the paint just wont stick, any little bugs or rocks just chip it right off

yea.. the grill is next on the list.. i just wanted to try it on a small piece the 1st time

[mndude07]

I have a 92 grill that I did the DIY hack to without stripping off the chrome. This grill has primer, black paint, JB weld, and bondo on it. If I put the grill in bleach how it is, will it take the paint/bondo/jb weld off as well?

[MikeW]

Very good write up The H on my trunk pulls right off and Im always wandering what it would look like a different color and i never knew how to go about painting it/priming it. Now i do. Thanks Man!

[casterX]

I have a 92 grill that I did the DIY hack to without stripping off the chrome. This grill has primer, black paint, JB weld, and bondo on it. If I put the grill in bleach how it is, will it take the paint/bondo/jb weld off as well?

i don't think so.. you would have to strip the paint 1st.

[Jack_lee]

the "bleach" here means the one we use to wash up our white cloths,right?sorry if this is a stupid question.but i need to reconfirm.

[F20A CB7]

the "bleach" here means the one we use to wash up our white cloths,right?sorry if this is a stupid question.but i need to reconfirm.

YES bleach to wash clothes.

[Mjfan12]

can I dunk my whole grill into a bucket with bleach for a couple of days, will it remove the chrome and not affect the black paint, or will everything come off?

also what will happen to the chrome? will it turn white like it did for the op?

I want to black out the whole grill, make it look more stealth.

also do I use 100% bleach or dilute it with some water?

finally what type of primer and paint is good for the grill? just an automotive flat black?