Getting the copper off?

[Robert Luland]

And now for the young scientist of the year award (Drum roll please). All joking a side. This post could help me and a lot of other people. A lot of stuff I have has been recovered from the chopper dynasty. I had my platter strip off the chrome and nickel but there is a lot of copper left behind. They say that they used to have something that would take it off but the EPA won’t let them use it any longer. Frankly I think there full of ****! Just cheap. Any way I got to find a way of removing this stuff. When you go to parkerize anything that was originally chromed. Any remnants will show right up even if you can’t see it prior to putting it in the soup. I’m depending on ya boys. Bob L

[Chris Haynes]

A polishing wheel will remove it.

[Robert Luland]

Nope Chris. You have to have a way of getting it out of every nok and cranny. Yes you can do it in a glass beading cabinet if you don't plan on doing anything else with the rest of your life.

[flat-happy]

i glass bead it off with low pressure. it won't affect the surface one bit. i have two sets of springer rockers that i had the chrome stripped off then parkerized and will post pics if you want me too. there was a lot of copper on one side of each and not much on the other. still came out the same

[RichO]

copper

Robert, They're right about the EPA. That chemical can no longer be used. I, like Chris, use a buffer/grinder with a fine grit scotchbrite wheel. You don't lose your detail and you get the last of the copper and nickel.

[Robert Luland]

I'm not buying it! There has to be some earth wrecking goop to take this stuff off. I live in the getto. If the stuff kills the inhavitants of my hood. The earth as a whole would be a better place. Bob L

[Re-cycleInc]

Sulfuric Acid

I was looking for chemicals to strip cad plating and I came across some threads on using heated sulfuric acid to remove copper. Not sure of the whole process or the science behind it , but it sure sounds interesting. I'm no chemist so I wouldn't try it after more research, but I figured I throw in what I have found. Good luck

[moon wolf]

I'm not buying it! There has to be some earth wrecking goop to take this stuff off. I live in the getto. If the stuff kills the inhavitants of my hood. The earth as a whole would be a better place. Bob L

Here's what I found on a technical site. Have no idea of the environmental consequences:

"Nitric acid in commercial grade will dissolve nickel and copper without attack to aluminum. Steel is severely attacked by nitric, so, if this is your substrate, you would require a dedicated striper for ferrous mateirlas..."

Also, Queen City plating in Mukilteo, Washington claims they can remove all the plating layers from you castings. Haven' tried them either.

http://www.queencityplating.com/

[Robert Luland]

Thanks guys. I remember reading something and I think it was here about using a car battery and battery acid to remove chrome. Wounder if it would take the copper off to? I think I'm going to drop a dime to that on line store that makes the the mini platting kits.

[rwm]

put a penny in lye acid and see what happens.there is a plater near you. steve d'atri hobart ave cloister n.j.

[Paps]

I've electroplated copper and silver onto surfaces in industrial applications, while on the job. I can't see why it isn't reversable. Paps

[Robert Luland]

Well RWM in the name of back yard chemistry. I been out looking for lie. So far I hit the A&P, Home Puke, the hardware store and the gardening store. No lie but they all looked at me strangely. I had one eye glued to the rear view all the way back to the shop. Anyone here know were ya can find lie. I know drain cleaner has it but it’s watered down and cost a small furtion. I also couldn’t get a handle on that platter.
Paps, Nether do I. Bob L

[jmanjeff]

Try here

http://www.boyercorporation.com/

[rwm]

ace hardware store it's use by plumbers to clean rust and scale out of iron pipes it's also the same stuff in hot tanks at your local engine rebuilder the plater near you is sterling restoration assc. 70 herbert ave closter nj 201 788 1140 also used in cleaning french fry oil for bio fuel

[flat-happy]

well if you don't want to try the glass beads maybe you have a furniture stripping place nearby? they use lye all the time