Is it possible to remove the chrome from a dial / button / switch etc. without damaging the plastic? If so how?

VIM ?

use some of your junker knobs to practice --
acetone, lacquer thinner, paint stripper, ect, etc

I will give it a shot. I have a box of parts I could practice on. It seems like JVC produces a chrome and a non-chrome version of some of their parts. As luck would have it I need a non-chrome version of a FF button. I am going to see if tracking down a chrome button will work for me as an option.

Hey Joel, here are three tips from some model builders asking the same question about the chrome on plastic:

1. Put the part in a big zip lock bag while outside, spray on some Easy off oven cleaner (yellow can) to front and back, seal the bag, and wait. Later open it, run water in it until it overflows and dilutes the cleaner, remove and brush off the lingering bits on the parts. Chrome usually comes off really fast, like a few minutes. Keep it off the skin and avoid breathing fumes and you'll be OK.

2. An automotive degreaser called Castrol Super Clean. Sold in gallon jugs in the automotive section at Wal-Mart...$5-6/gallon. It's also an excellent paint stripper, won't harm stryrene plastic (clear parts too!) Just immerse the part into a closed container of CSC. In 30 mins the chrome is gone, no toothbrushes, no scrubbing. Wear gloves. It's strong stuff (not enough to cause burns) but it has the potential of drying out your skin.

3. Pine Sol or cheap dollar store Pine cleaner. The process takes about 12 hours or overnight and you can wisk off the chrome with an old toothbrush.

One of those should work for you.

By the way, in most cases, the chrome on plastic parts is actually vacuum metallized aluminum.

Great tips FD!! I will try those on some junker parts and see what works best. I am hoping that under the chrome is the same plastic that the non-chrome parts are made out of... but I will see. I will take some pictures of the process and post them when I am done.