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Rather than sanding it off I decided to remove the chrome completely. The chrome is applied to a soft PVC type material by pressure and glue.
Tools needed: a stanley knife (box cutter) with some new blades. To remove a complete grille worth of chrome I destroyed the sharp edge on both ends of a single blade. This job can't be done with a snagged blade as it will keep catching.
Tea breaks: at least one...
Time: about an hour in total
Warning: The chrome is metal and is quite difficult to cut in some cases. Be careful when making the initial incision as one slip of the knife could be fatal but at least will make a bloody mess. No point crying if you cut your femoral artery. Also the little bits of chrome are sharp, wear gloves if necessary.
The bottom and the corners are the most difficult so I suggest you start at the top although the order of these photos is done starting at the bottom.
Removed from car, it needs a clean but that's a job for another day.
Make an incision all the way down along the length of the bottom of the grille.
Then get the sharp edge of the blade in under the chrome and slide it gently down along the length of the incision. The idea here is to get under it and facilitate peeling it off. It is way quicker to peel it off in say 1 inch long sections than attempt to cut it off.
When you get the blade in under it by 5-6mm it will peel by hand (or with a pliers if you can't grab it).
The corners are the hardest part but if you get the blade in under it under the corner as shown it'll come pretty easy.
Half way there:
When you get it to start stripping like this you'll be flying:
Finished:
Tools needed: a stanley knife (box cutter) with some new blades. To remove a complete grille worth of chrome I destroyed the sharp edge on both ends of a single blade. This job can't be done with a snagged blade as it will keep catching.
Tea breaks: at least one...
Time: about an hour in total
Warning: The chrome is metal and is quite difficult to cut in some cases. Be careful when making the initial incision as one slip of the knife could be fatal but at least will make a bloody mess. No point crying if you cut your femoral artery. Also the little bits of chrome are sharp, wear gloves if necessary.
The bottom and the corners are the most difficult so I suggest you start at the top although the order of these photos is done starting at the bottom.
Removed from car, it needs a clean but that's a job for another day.
Make an incision all the way down along the length of the bottom of the grille.
Then get the sharp edge of the blade in under the chrome and slide it gently down along the length of the incision. The idea here is to get under it and facilitate peeling it off. It is way quicker to peel it off in say 1 inch long sections than attempt to cut it off.
When you get the blade in under it by 5-6mm it will peel by hand (or with a pliers if you can't grab it).
The corners are the hardest part but if you get the blade in under it under the corner as shown it'll come pretty easy.
Half way there:
When you get it to start stripping like this you'll be flying:
Finished:
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