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Removing Nickle Plating
p3skyking
Member Posts: 23,916 ✭✭✭
Past couple of days I've had a project going that was as much an experiment as a restoration. I bought a relic revolver that had been nickle plated at some point. The seller had avertised it as hard chromed about 50 years ago. Knowing hard chrome was not done 50 years ago, I rightly assumed it was nickle but didn't tell him that so as to steal it.[:p]
When it arrived on Wednesday, I stripped it down and immersed it in Phos Pro, trade name for a phosphoric acid used for priming ferric metal prior to painting.
I'm very happy to report it works! Went in this morning and pulled the parts out and the nickle was almost completely gone. Only a few parts still retained nickle where it was extra thick. They are spending another night in the bath. For $5. a quart, it's much cheaper than anything else I've found. It leaves a gray protective finish (until polishing) much like parkerizing. Considering the weapon's original finish was not blue, but a brown pickling, it's about perfect.
I checked the metal with a loupe and there is no indication that the acid attacked the steel whatsoever. In fact, it seems like it filled in small scratches.
Thought I would pass this along to those that can use it.
When it arrived on Wednesday, I stripped it down and immersed it in Phos Pro, trade name for a phosphoric acid used for priming ferric metal prior to painting.
I'm very happy to report it works! Went in this morning and pulled the parts out and the nickle was almost completely gone. Only a few parts still retained nickle where it was extra thick. They are spending another night in the bath. For $5. a quart, it's much cheaper than anything else I've found. It leaves a gray protective finish (until polishing) much like parkerizing. Considering the weapon's original finish was not blue, but a brown pickling, it's about perfect.
I checked the metal with a loupe and there is no indication that the acid attacked the steel whatsoever. In fact, it seems like it filled in small scratches.
Thought I would pass this along to those that can use it.
Comments
Thought I would pass this along to those that can use it.
The gun or the info? Don
quote:Originally posted by p3skyking
Thought I would pass this along to those that can use it.
The gun or the info? Don
Right now, just the info. I may sell it for a large profit later.[;)]
"Since the 1920's, electroplated hard chrome has been used as an economical and functional repair for many types of worn and damaged parts. Today, although challenged by new technologies, hard chrome continues to be the most effective and economical material to repair parts subjected to extreme forces."
quote:Originally posted by dcon12
quote:Originally posted by p3skyking
Thought I would pass this along to those that can use it.
The gun or the info? Don
Right now, just the info. I may sell it for a large profit later.[;)]
The gun or the info ??? [:D]
FYI
"Since the 1920's, electroplated hard chrome has been used as an economical and functional repair for many types of worn and damaged parts. Today, although challenged by new technologies, hard chrome continues to be the most effective and economical material to repair parts subjected to extreme forces."
That's interesting but the first I ever heard of it being used on firearms was 1980. Got a link? I would enjoy reading the history of it.
http://www.chromcorp.com/crodon/history.cfm
ICE