Will Sandblasting Remove Chrome?

Sandblasting is a type of abrasive blasting that can be used to remove chrome. It propels solid pieces of silica sand, crushed glass or other abrasive blasting media through a nozzle to impact a surface and remove the chrome.

While traditional blasting alternatives can effectively remove chrome, some types of blast abrasives can be safer, more effective, and less costly than others. Keep reading to learn about the best type of abrasive blasting material for your needs.

Ways to Remove Chrome Finish

Whether the goal is to remove chrome plating for aesthetic purposes or to put on a new coating, an abrasive blaster can get the job done efficiently and effectively. Other methods for removing chrome include:

• Chemical solutions
• Reverse electroplating
• Specialized machinery

Although these methods work well, they can be time-consuming, complicated, and dangerous. For example, reverse electroplating involves a live electric current and involves hazardous chemicals. Other chemical methods may be difficult to execute or damage the underlying substrate, making it difficult to re-chrome.

Types of Blast Abrasive for Chrome

Abrasive blasting isn’t the only way to remove chrome, but it is one of the best options. You can do abrasive blasting with a wide variety of blast media, including glass beads, aluminum oxide, garnet, and more. While these blast media types have benefits, they also have downsides.

Aluminum oxide is one of the hardest blast media to use, which means it could potentially damage the material beneath the chrome. While glass beads are a softer blast media, they take much longer to remove chrome from a surface and, in some cases, won’t be able to remove chrome plating at all. And, garnet blast media creates a fine dust that’s dangerous to breathe.

The Best Abrasive Media for Removing Chrome

10X Engineered Materials has developed a line of superoxalloy blast abrasives that are clean, strong, and durable. While EpiX, DynamiX, and KinetiX abrasives will all remove chrome in one quick step, EpiX can do so without damaging the metal substrate. Afterward, the surface will be virtually clean of embedded particles so that the next coating can adhere more effectively.

Beyond their high performance, EpiX and KinetiX superoxalloy abrasives are biosoluble. This means 10X abrasives are safer for both workspaces and the environment. Plus, EpiX and KinetiX are more reusable and offer lower dust than other popular abrasives.

To find out more about these blast abrasives, reach out to us at 260-253-2278 or contact us through our online form.