Hi Guy's.. Three part question..

1. Can my Blued factory Winchester one piece bottom metal be plated even though the frame of the unit is alloy??

2.. If yes... Who does it??

3... Rough estimate of the cost??

Thanks All..

Electroless nickel can be applied to a wide variety of metals and alloys, including aluminium and aluminium alloys. The pre-treatment for alu differs from that of steel to give good adhesion but any company doing electroless nickel should know this. Electroless nickel is pale gold in colour. if you want to match a stainless steel finish, anodising would be a better colour match and it is as durable as nickel. The alloy may not be compatible with anodising but, again, the refinishing company will be able to say if it can be done. Bead blasting with a fine silicone bead compound gives a nice eggshell finish that is not highly reflective. On the handgun below, the slide top and compensator is bead blasted before plating, the slide sides are polished before plating and the frame is anodised aluminium.

Companies that handle customised motor vehicles should be able to point you to an experienced plating company in the area. California has many of those, I think.

Going by the rates in SA, cost cannot be more than $10.00 or $20.00.

quote:

Electroless nickel is pale gold in colour.

Going by the rates in SA, cost cannot be more than $10.00 or $20.00.

I had a Mauser barreled action in .308 electroless nickle plated and it was silver in color (not gold).

It's possible that colors are an option and that several colors are available.....

As to cost.....many platers have a minimum charge for services just to cover the paperwork involved.....some as high as $100.

Get a quote before contracting services. Some will actually do a "one piece" thing free to avail the paperwork....slip them a $20 as a thank you!

Vapodog,
That is interesting. What is the paperwork that is required for plating work that is so expensive? I used to book the job in on a jobcard, do the plating and then make out an invoice. If you still have that Mauser 308, check inside the receiver for a slightly darker colour than what is on the outside. Let me know if it is so, or if the colour is perfectly uniform in all the recesses inside the receiver.

quote:

Originally posted by Gerard:
Vapodog,
That is interesting. What is the paperwork that is required for plating work that is so expensive? I used to book the job in on a jobcard, do the plating and then make out an invoice. If you still have that Mauser 308, check inside the receiver for a slightly darker colour than what is on the outside. Let me know if it is so, or if the colour is perfectly uniform in all the recesses inside the receiver.

Most platers here are industrial and the entire billing cycle is involved for a single piece...the last I was aware the minimum charge was $75 at a plater in Minneapolis.....and that was in the '80s....not sure what the paperwork was allabout but it included the writing of shop orders to perform the work.....shop records of work done....etc....including billing by mail!

IU sold the Mauser to a guy in Montana for his boy....it was a late modl mexican....maybe he'll read this thread and comment.

Most US quality plating houses have a minimum lot charge of at least $90.
ENP does have a slight yellow/gold tint as compared to chrome. As a stand alone item the gold tint may not be noticed.
If your bottom metal is alloy ...do you know which alloy? Some alloys ...cast alloys are porous and do not result in an attractive plating or anodizing process. Those materials will often found to be painted.
My employer spends millions of $ per year on the very highest quality ENP. The most expensive part I have worked with cost $7700 for the ENP alone. This plating is used in extremely corrosive environments and is not used for it's decorative value.

S90.00 is equal to R630 at the current exchange rate. I used to charge R600.00 for a handgun - Slide, frame and all external small parts. I should not have sold my plating equipment.

Mike

I normally use www.craftguard.com for nickel plating. I don't think they will plate your guard. Retail on a complete gun is about $175.00. Check there sight for details.

James

It's actually nickel with some phosphorous Fairly hard with some heat treating . Newer solutions may be even harder. IIRC Browning used it on some of their HPs and it was grey .

Thanks All.. Will be doing some follow-up work..