atb

I've seen on tv where they do a dip and run an repelling electrical charge. Also heard of just sandblasting.

These are going on a track car, so I'm not concerned about concours quality. Just want to remove the chrome and paint. They are OEM Porsche rims.

Thanks for any advice.

Tom. M

When I had the rims from my Volvo "de-chromed"...they sandblasted..and it came off in weird chunks...some places it came right off, others it just wouldn't budge..and the sandblasting started eating into the metal. Going to be tough to do for sure....

James Bailey

Often when you strip chrome off an alloy wheel there is a lot of pitting/ corrosion which needs to be polished out if it is to look nice. That amount of grinding and polishing often means the details start to go away....The grooves around the windows disappear.

SQLGuy

I would definitely try electo-stripping rather than abrasion... especially since chrome is quite hard.

For probably $35 a piece, after that, you could have them powder coated, which, with the right Camaro Silver or similar, should look pretty original, and be much easier to clean than bare metal.

atb

There are two local plaiting shops, I'll give them a call and post their answers. Hopefully quick, cheap and effective. I'm concerned that Porsche chrome is tough chrome.

123quattro

Sell the wheels for whatever you can get for them as-is and buy some non-chrome track wheels.

SteveG

I'm curious, is this a track requirement? I would rattle can the chrome. You can get the flat discs for the cost of shipping if you look around.

hans14914

Call a local chrome shop. They have to do chrome.

They will be able to remove the old chrome for you chemically. You will then need to get them soda blasted before powdercoating. I was quoted $30/wheel here locally to have them chemically stripped.

Often times, your local powder-coating job-shop will have a relationship with a plating shop for this purpose. They may be able to recommend one to you, or even send them out in a batch of other parts for you.

You certainly dont want to try it at home. It has terrible caustic/toxic vapor, and the solution is difficult to dispose.

Hope that helps,
Hans

James Bailey

There is no such thing as "Porsche Chrome" All the chrome wheels were done after the cars left the factory. And the quality of such aftermarket work varies greatly.

atb

@ John - I'm sending the check today, sorry no turning back.
@ Steve - I don't know of any track regs against chromed wheels. I think its more of a faux pas more than anything else because of the belief that the chrome weakens the alloy.
@ Hans - That's exactly what I'm going to do today.
@JB - That's what I thought too, until I saw the below photo of the wheels I'm buying. Maybe Porsche has a sub-contractor now that they ship out chrome requests to?

These are 993 twist wheels, so they are not going to be as strong as the 928 flats. I'm hoping they will still be strong enough after dechroming for track use. Since they are OEM, I'm gambling that they will be at least as strong as the knock off wheels even after dechroming.

ashmason

I called a few places in Los Angeles to have mine dechromed and refinished in silver. They are OEM 996 wheels so the lightweight ones, and I guess at some point someone had em Chromed. $150 a wheel to dechrome and refinsh Tough sell when you can pick up a set of gently used wheels with tires on craigslist or ebay for similar money. So that's the route I am going.

Hilton

Er.. Adam.. its a track car...

Sandpaper and a cheap rattle can of whatever color you want If you're feeling fancy and proud you could use some primer too

(more seriously - a quick google on "painting chrome" brings up some info.. e.g. http://www.finishing.com/256/93.shtml

tmpusfugit

I have had several Porsche rims de-chromed and powder coated in the last year or so...I was told they beadblasted the chrome off and then powder coated....about $70 per rim, in the Houston area...