Try using copper wire looped around the grille to make the electrical connection. That's what they use in chrome shops.

 

Cheap Wally world swimming pool......shallow but large diameter...and can be cleaned afterwards and given to the dogs for the summer...

 

I'll probably still go half at a time in a bucket. I'm a little concerned with "islands" of chrome being left if surrounding chrome comes off faster, which would disconnect these islands from the circuit, effectively making this method more trouble than it's worth. I think I could cut down on this possibility by only doing half at a time. And wrapping loops of copper may work for putting chrome on, but it would be gone faster than the chrome while taking it off I think. It's actually a very thin layer of chrome on top of a thick layer of copper anyway. You could kiss any wrapped copper wire goodbye.