Chrome plating often becomes corroded, damaged, scratched or discolored. You can refinish your chrome plating by treating it in a vat of chromic acid-based electrolyte. Rechroming enables you to repair a part, such as a wheel, for far less than it would take to purchase a new part. After using a grinder to remove part or all of your chrome plating --- depending on the degree of corrosion and discoloration--- immerse it in an electrolyte bath and run voltage current through the bath to rechrome your part.
- 100-to-1 chromic acid/sulfuric acid solution
- Distilled water; 1 gallon
- Electrolytic cell, containing two electrodes (a cathode and an anode)
- Lead sheets
- Two-electrode system
- Voltage current source
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Instructions
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1
Add your chromic acid/sulfuric acid solution slowly to your distilled water in the electrolytic cell.
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2
Place your electrolytic cell on a heating plate; heat its contents to between 52 and 58 degrees Celsius.
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3
Use your grinder to remove the damaged chrome plating. If unfamiliar with chrome plating treatment, consult an expert in order to avoid removing excessive amounts of plating.
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4
Attach your object to the cathode in your electrolytic cell. Attach the lead sheets to the anode.
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5
Plug in your voltage current source; apply 10 amps of current to the electrolytic cell. DC current will flow from the anode to the cathode, facilitating chromium metal buildup on the surface of the cathode.