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Cleaning a Nickeled Colt DS.

William81William81 Member Posts: 25,483 ✭✭✭✭
edited June 2003 in Ask the Experts
I picked up a Colt DS from an LEO buddy a few years back and it has a spot on it from where he used to carry it in the small of his back. The stain is a sweat stain about the size of a quarter that has discolored the nickel plating. The gun was made in 1971 and is really nice with the exception of the stain.

Any suggestions ? I do not want to damage it any further. Thanks


Guns only have two enemies: Rust and Liberals....
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Comments

  • nmyersnmyers Member Posts: 16,892 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Unfortunately, Colt nickel is not a durable finish. I have yet to see or hear of a gun with that finish that could be cosmetically repaired without stripping & replating. Plating is only a few microns thick. If you decide to go that route, call Pittsburgh Handgun (412-766-6100), but the best is never cheap.

    Neal
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  • rhmc24rhmc24 Member Posts: 1,984 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    There is a nickel plating process sold by a Texas concern that can do spot refinishing. The kit costs around $40 and requires battery power that you can supply with flashlight dry cells. I have used it several to 'touch up' used guns and to plate entire pistols. Some I did 20 years ago and still look good. It is probably not as durable as a tank process but considering the price etc etc, it is not a bad product. If you are interested email me and I will look up their address for you. rhmc24@swbell.net
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  • drobsdrobs Member Posts: 22,620 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    A guy I work with mentioned that it was possible to clean nickel up by lightly sand blasting it. I don't have any experience with this but he said he'd had our gunsmith put the sandblaster on the lightest setting possible & just briefly touch it.

    Regards,
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  • RancheroPaulRancheroPaul Member Posts: 1,459 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    First of all, is the Gun a "Shiny" Nickel finish or a Dull "Satin" Matte finish? If you sandblast it, it will remove the nickel. Even if you "JUST BARELY" you will be removing some of the nickel finish. Also, if it is "shiny" then it will become "Dull." Or, it just might show up "Copper" color because the gun is plated with Copper first, then Nickel. The copper is what gives the shiny nickel the famous sort of "Yellow Look." If the gun is Matte Dull Nickel, then it is a finish called "Electroless ColtGard" and that is a different process altogether. That is a very durable hard finish that wears exceptionally well! This finish wouldn't like to be sand blasted at all.......

    Remember, value goes down about 50% for a "Refinished Colt" and in some cases, they become nearly impossible to sell. Consider the reasons you think it should be re-finished and whether or not you intend to keep it "forever." Forever is a Long, LONG time! Good Luck!

    "Life is FRAGILE!" Handle With Care!
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