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removing nickle plating

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12 April 2008, 04:15
tieoneon
removing nickle plating
Can nickle plating be removed from a pistol? How is it done? How hard it is to do? Thanks.
12 April 2008, 07:11
butchlambert
I am having both nickel and chrome removed at this time. A reputable plating place[www.gleco.com] is doing the work for me.
Butch
www.shadetreeea.com
12 April 2008, 09:39
ramrod340
quote:
Can nickle plating be removed from a pistol? How is it done? How hard it is to do? Thanks

I would not call it a do it yourself project. If my memory can go back 30 years an acid solution and a dc power source. You basically unplate it. As butch said best way is send it to a plating service.


As usual just my $.02
Paul K
15 April 2008, 03:19
50 Calshtr
You can do it. Check out Dunlaps "Gunsmithing", page 368. Did this a few years ago with a plated 1911, turned out great. All it takes is a glass fish bowl, battery acid, a chunk of lead a DC power source and some wire. Put the acid (1 Gal from an auto parts store) in the bowl, add a qt of distilled water (slowly!), attach the lead block to the negative of the power source and the positive to the part you want to deplate and suspend in the liquid. Just takes a few minutes, it's done when you don't see any chrome/nickle on the piece. Give it a good rinse and you're done. Be sure to wear your safety stuff, face shield, gloves etc and be careful. Works well because there's no danger in polishing off corners etc. It's pretty simple but I'd read Dunlap a couple of times before starting.
Best.
15 April 2008, 03:31
butchlambert
50 cal,
It takes much more than a few minutes and for the price, I wouldn't go to the trouble to do it myself.
Butch
15 April 2008, 23:10
cgbach
Brownells sells unplating solution (or used to, it's been a while). I used it to remove chrome plating from chokes and chambers before working on forcing cones and chokes. I used a 6v battery charger and just followed their instructions, worked great.
C.G.B.