Nickel Plating A Firearm
- Thread starter kevinh
- Start date
My opinions...
Find someone who does Electroless plating. It is the best for firearms.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroless_nickel_plating
Electro plating is the worst.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroplating
Find someone who does Electroless plating. It is the best for firearms.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroless_nickel_plating
Electro plating is the worst.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroplating
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Guntech, you normally post such good advice. But I have to question this particular suggestion what with having some background with electroless plating.
The electroless plating I am familiar with produces nothing more than a flash coating which is VERY thin and thus is going to be very prone to wear. On the other hand the thickness of the plating on the nickeled guns I've seen is much thicker and obviously was electro plated.
Of course the only issue with the thicker electroplating option is that it will affect the clearances of the parts unless extensive masking is done prior to the plating operation.
The electroless plating I am familiar with produces nothing more than a flash coating which is VERY thin and thus is going to be very prone to wear. On the other hand the thickness of the plating on the nickeled guns I've seen is much thicker and obviously was electro plated.
Of course the only issue with the thicker electroplating option is that it will affect the clearances of the parts unless extensive masking is done prior to the plating operation.
The Electroless that Magna Port of Canada did when they were active. (I think it was Joe) was really well done. I had a lot done by him. The advantage of Electroless plating is it goes everywhere, evenly right to the bottom of tapped holes. Two 700 actions I had done were still great after 15 years - the last contact I had with them.
My experience with Electro plating is it does not go evenly and it does not go everywhere and builds up thicker in some areas.
This also has been related to me by a person who was in the plating field for a few years.
My experience with Electro plating is it does not go evenly and it does not go everywhere and builds up thicker in some areas.
This also has been related to me by a person who was in the plating field for a few years.
Caswell Plating Supplies provides mail order service for plating supplies.
If for no other reason, I post this here so that the reader might have some idea how much the materials cost to get involved in plating small parts, lest he shriek at the sight of a written price quote, eh?
IIRC electroless nickel was the process used by the factories at the time most of the old guns were made. Plating thickness is controlled by the guy doing the plating. If you want thick or thin, it can be done. As can blanking off the spots you do not want plating.
Cheers
Trev
If for no other reason, I post this here so that the reader might have some idea how much the materials cost to get involved in plating small parts, lest he shriek at the sight of a written price quote, eh?
IIRC electroless nickel was the process used by the factories at the time most of the old guns were made. Plating thickness is controlled by the guy doing the plating. If you want thick or thin, it can be done. As can blanking off the spots you do not want plating.
Cheers
Trev
Thanks guys! Much appreciated.
Electroless plating sounds like the right avenue to take.
I like the advantages : Advantages include:
Does not use electrical power.
Even coating on parts surface can be achieved.
No sophisticated jigs or racks are required.
There is flexibility in plating volume and thickness.
The process can plate recesses and blind holes with stable thickness.
Chemical replenishment can be monitored automatically.
Complex filtration method is not required
Matte, Semi Bright or Bright finishes can be obtained.
Tho I havent bought the firearm yet...the one I want nickel plated,
maybe I missed it in post, but did/could some mention a company in canada that will nickel plate a firearm.
I made some calls around toronto a year ago to people who nickel plate but none of them would nickel plate a firearm.
Thanks again guys!
Cheers,
Kevin
Electroless plating sounds like the right avenue to take.
I like the advantages : Advantages include:
Does not use electrical power.
Even coating on parts surface can be achieved.
No sophisticated jigs or racks are required.
There is flexibility in plating volume and thickness.
The process can plate recesses and blind holes with stable thickness.
Chemical replenishment can be monitored automatically.
Complex filtration method is not required
Matte, Semi Bright or Bright finishes can be obtained.
Tho I havent bought the firearm yet...the one I want nickel plated,
maybe I missed it in post, but did/could some mention a company in canada that will nickel plate a firearm.
I made some calls around toronto a year ago to people who nickel plate but none of them would nickel plate a firearm.
Thanks again guys!
Cheers,
Kevin
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Your biggest problem will be having the serial numbered frame (which constitutes a firearm) plated.
In order to 'work' on a firearm the plating business will require a firearms business permit... and if it is a restricted firearm, they require a restricted firearm business permit. I miss Joe and his fully licensed Magna Porting business. RIP.
MikeTheRock
Regular
- Location
- Calgary, AB
I've just gone through this and can offer up a few tidbits.
Firstly, I agree with the above posters that electroless is the way to go. Current processes make the plating very durable and with heat treating it can achieve a very high hardness rating. There are also other advantages relating to the ability to plate aluminum (great when matching accessory parts) and other aspects.
I was unable to find a shop in Canada that was suitable, so I was forced to look to the US. This is actually not that bad if you are sourcing your firearm from the US. In my case it was an Eliseo chassis. With the relatively cheap import services out there buying the firearm and plating it before export from the US can actually make sense.
As to US platers, Robar and Accurate Plating and Weaponry are two of the best. Robar has larger tanks and can handle larger pieces, but APW can take up to 15-18 inches IIRC. Both Robar and APW plate for large US manufacturers like Colt, so they know what they are doing. Their websites are also very informative.
I would not allow anyone to plate a firearm unless that is what they do for a living. There are a lot of nuances to the art, and general/decorative plating shops may not even be aware of some of the issues. Just call Robar or APW and you'll get a good sense of how complicated the science behind it really is.
Firstly, I agree with the above posters that electroless is the way to go. Current processes make the plating very durable and with heat treating it can achieve a very high hardness rating. There are also other advantages relating to the ability to plate aluminum (great when matching accessory parts) and other aspects.
I was unable to find a shop in Canada that was suitable, so I was forced to look to the US. This is actually not that bad if you are sourcing your firearm from the US. In my case it was an Eliseo chassis. With the relatively cheap import services out there buying the firearm and plating it before export from the US can actually make sense.
As to US platers, Robar and Accurate Plating and Weaponry are two of the best. Robar has larger tanks and can handle larger pieces, but APW can take up to 15-18 inches IIRC. Both Robar and APW plate for large US manufacturers like Colt, so they know what they are doing. Their websites are also very informative.
I would not allow anyone to plate a firearm unless that is what they do for a living. There are a lot of nuances to the art, and general/decorative plating shops may not even be aware of some of the issues. Just call Robar or APW and you'll get a good sense of how complicated the science behind it really is.
I had one done some years back by the bumper rechroming shop on the south side of Edmonton, which also does electrodes nickel. They did a good job, but I have no idea if they are still in business. - dan
"...none of them would..." Doing work on firearms requires a firearms business licence and the employees doing it must have a PAL. The days of being able to use just any shop for whatever, plating or finishes, etc., are gone. One of the many things put into the FA to make owning 'em a nuisance.
In any case, nickle plating is a 19th Century solution for rust proofing. There are much better finishes now. Industrial hard chrome being one. Great finish that can be polished far prettier than nickle. Actually polishes itself where metal rubs on metal. Shops doing it still require the FBL though.
In any case, nickle plating is a 19th Century solution for rust proofing. There are much better finishes now. Industrial hard chrome being one. Great finish that can be polished far prettier than nickle. Actually polishes itself where metal rubs on metal. Shops doing it still require the FBL though.
Hey Guys,
Thanks for all your input.
Sunray, this is what I am after- http://www.mobguns.com/news_single_bWebley.html .
I guess I'm going to google "chromed firearms"
Cheers
Kevin
Thanks for all your input.
Sunray, this is what I am after- http://www.mobguns.com/news_single_bWebley.html .
I guess I'm going to google "chromed firearms"
Cheers
Kevin
MikeTheRock
Regular
- Location
- Calgary, AB
Kevin,
Make sure you have a good handle on the final appearance of the finishes. Chrome will be bright silver, and bright nickel will be similar. Matte/satin nickel will have a different appearance. The example you linked appears to be very similar to what I was looking for, which was electroless nickel, satin finish with a light bead blast on the substrate. I was specifically looking for the slight yellow tinge, not the bright chrome look. PM me your email and I can send you some photos with various Cerakote samples and an electroless nickel sample all side by side.
Cerakote has some colors that are close, and there may be finishes more durable (arguable with proper heat treating of nickel), but nothing is quite as nice as satin nickel (for me anyway).
As for Robar/exporting, I had my chassis plated before going to the smith building the action, so it was not exported by Robar. However, someone like Prophet River or Irunguns could probably export your pistol for you after plating.
I had my heart set on nickel as I had a project done in nickel years ago and really really wanted to duplicate the finish. If not for that I probably would have gone with Cerakote as it is much more readily available.
Make sure you have a good handle on the final appearance of the finishes. Chrome will be bright silver, and bright nickel will be similar. Matte/satin nickel will have a different appearance. The example you linked appears to be very similar to what I was looking for, which was electroless nickel, satin finish with a light bead blast on the substrate. I was specifically looking for the slight yellow tinge, not the bright chrome look. PM me your email and I can send you some photos with various Cerakote samples and an electroless nickel sample all side by side.
Cerakote has some colors that are close, and there may be finishes more durable (arguable with proper heat treating of nickel), but nothing is quite as nice as satin nickel (for me anyway).
As for Robar/exporting, I had my chassis plated before going to the smith building the action, so it was not exported by Robar. However, someone like Prophet River or Irunguns could probably export your pistol for you after plating.
I had my heart set on nickel as I had a project done in nickel years ago and really really wanted to duplicate the finish. If not for that I probably would have gone with Cerakote as it is much more readily available.
I just had a beat up old Savage model 24 nickel plated with a satin finish here in town at Victoria Plating and I was impressed and pleased with the job they did. Keep in mind they are not, nor do they profess to be, gunsmiths; so make sure the parts you want to have plated can handle having the dimensions changed on the surfaces you want to have plated. These guys might be a good option for you, give them a ring, just do a search on Victoria Plating Ltd.
Hey AWMozart!
Thanks so much for your suggestion.
I guess I have to strip the pistol down and mark what should and shouldn't be plated.
Do you have a photo of your plated Savage model 24?
Also, may I ask how much they charged for the plating?
Thanks again!
Cheers,
Kevin
Thanks so much for your suggestion.
I guess I have to strip the pistol down and mark what should and shouldn't be plated.
Do you have a photo of your plated Savage model 24?
Also, may I ask how much they charged for the plating?
Thanks again!
Cheers,
Kevin
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Many years ago they ruined the bore and chamber of a brand new chrome moly .35 Whelen barrel of mine. Pitted from one end to the other... Wouldn't do anything about it. Never been back.
They do not have a restricted firearms business license that I know of... so the serial numbered part is off limits...
