I’ve a chromed tube axle I need to weld spring pads on. I’d like to use my belt sander with some type of metal oxide paper to grind the chrome off where I’m going to weld and keep a nice line and not dig into the tube. Suggestions on a grit/type of paper to seek? Thanks
Chrome is super tough, good luck trying to get it off with sand paper. Maybe a carbide burr and die grinder.
Last chrome tube axle I welded brackets on I used my small grinder and Roloc 2" discs on. I used a 80 grit disc, and it worked great. Marked the chrome tube with a black felt marker, and ground it following the black lines. Once the brackets were tig welded on I masked off the chrome that was still in good shape, and sprayed the welds, and new brackets with chrome paint. The axle and brackets still look great, and the chrome paint looks like a polished aluminum finish.
Send it to your chrome shop and have them strip it for you that way if your going to re chrome it they don't have to fix your grinder marks
Always the guy who likes to disagree, I'm thinking why bother. Not that I'm speaking with application specific experience, but I have welded to a chrome bumper. Align and weld it. If you think it won't dillute your wrong, it will. The weld will be be a little shiny, maybe a tad harder, so what. Chrome melts around 1900F, carbon steel around 2400F to 2800F depending on carbon and alloys. More a chance to fail in failing to properly set the welding machine up and welding it. Was that GTAW or GMAW you were planning to use? As for the dust from grinding, it's not a line of coke your snorting. Not like your going to develope a bad habit from it either. But the fumes in my opinion are easier to deal with then the dust. Common sense tells you most of what you need to know. Dust mask, don't breath the dust and keep it off the sandwich or the coffee cup. Or...minimize and just weld it. It'll filter out and be gone with a breeze. One last thing...I understand the question was how best to remove the chrome as removing it is best practice and policy. Regarding removel, smaller particulate is more a hazard problem then coarse chunks. I'd tape off what you don't want removed with duct tape in layers to act as a guide/wall/curb and use the edge of a zip disc to wash it out and away. Carefully, as it will want to walk. But it will remove material quite quickly and with less of a dust being created.