Removing chrome from M3 backdoor dial

[kellan]

Hey everyone!

Just joined this as I am undertaking a black chrome project for a broken M3 I've just acquired. The rangefinder prism has split and I am going to fix it with new Canadian Balsam. Anyways, not the point of this post.

So I'd like to make this my "night" camera. I am going to strip off all the silver chrome (and I mean ALL the chrome) and replace it with black chrome. I thought about black paint, but taking off that nickle sounds like a pain in the butt. I can do the black chrome as easily as I can do the removal of the silver.

So my question to you all is, how do I remove the back dial from the back door. I can easily take off the back pressure plate, but the dial is attached with, I think, copper plugs.

Do I heat up these plugs and it pops out? Can I black chrome this bad boy without removing the dial instead?

Am I missing something here??

Thanks for any help you all have. I've already read all the black paint stuff I can here and I didn't find the answer!

 

[Dez]

It's generally easier to remove the nickel than the chrome. The chrome is best done with hydrochloric acid, and the nickel with sulphuric acid. Regular battery acid is about the right concentration for the nickel, and HCl bought as "Muriatic acid" for etching concrete is right for chrome. Be careful with these acids, they are dangerous.

I think a good black enamel is your best bet, but then again I never much liked black chrome. About the rivets, I suspect you should try grinding the heads off with a Dremel tool and then using epoxy to secure them when you replace the dial.

Cheers,
Dez

 

[kellan]

Thanks for the advice. I am not entirely sure how the back dial is attached to the back door. Was it placed into the door and then the copper crushed like a rivet?

I've though about black enamel, but I think it would be more interesting to have a black chrome M3. I haven't seen many of those around. Also I think I'll just reverse off the chrome instead of using acid.

I think I'll get the Buddha straps unchromed by hanging it just inside the solution instead of trying to remove them. It'll take longer but they look like they are a pain to remove.