Electroless nickle at home, Who's done it?

swampman · April 19, 2012, 10:10:57 PM

I have a '51 Navy conversion being worked on by Hoof Hearted that will be done soon and I have plans to have it nickle plated. I ran across a DIY electroless kit on the Midway site. Has anyone tried these home kits? Results?

Reverend P. Babcock Chase · April 19, 2012, 10:38:03 PM

howdy Swampster,

I have no experience with the DIY kit you mention, but I have a fair amount of experience with commercial electroless nickel plating on firearms. In my experience the electroless nickel gives a matte finish and is nothing like the bright nickel that is customary on sixguns. YOu might like the look, but it won't look anything like what might have been on a firearm of that era. For that matter, I'm not sure when guns were first nickel plated. I don't think I've ever seen a original percussion gun that had that finish.

My two cents,

Reverend Chase

swampman · April 20, 2012, 12:34:12 AM

Quote from: Reverend P. Babcock Chase on April 19, 2012, 10:38:03 PM
howdy Swampster,

I have no experience with the DIY kit you mention, but I have a fair amount of experience with commercial electroless nickel plating on firearms. In my experience the electroless nickel gives a matte finish and is nothing like the bright nickel that is customary on sixguns. YOu might like the look, but it won't look anything like what might have been on a firearm of that era. For that matter, I'm not sure when guns were first nickel plated. I don't think I've ever seen a original percussion gun that had that finish.

My two cents,

Reverend Chase

It was my understanding that electroless was the process in use back in the 1870's, thereby explaining my interest. I read that the smoothness of the finish is in direct relation to the smoothness of the metal underneath. I've already removed the Italian markings and hand finished the barrel to a 1200grit level. I had planned on bringing the entire weapon up to that finish before sending it off for plating. The more I read about home-plating, the more I think I could pull it off. I'm the kind that if I see it done or talk to someone who was successful I can do it myself. I figured some pard on here would know. I really love those nickeled conversions.

c.o.jones · April 20, 2012, 08:18:05 PM

For 48 years my family owned a Plating Company. There is NO WAY you can nickel plate a firearm with a Quality Finish that will last for years and years by using a kit. Have a professional do it. ......................Regards.....C.O. JONES

St. George · April 20, 2012, 10:59:34 PM

Indeed - some things are worth paying for, and DIY kits aren't the answer when it comes to plating.

Scouts Out!

Flinch Morningwood · April 21, 2012, 09:38:47 AM

Did you do the plating yet?

I have bought the Electroless kit and am planning to do this to a couple of 1851 Navy conversions. While not originally nickel plated, several reference books (including THE PEACEMAKERS) state that many percusion pistols were nickel plated at the time they were converted to cartridge.

I did the conversion of the pistols so I think I can handle this...I hope.

If it doesn't come out good, I can always send off to a professional. The extra cost would be my most recent installment to the "idiot tax."

I'll try and post some before and after pictures.....

swampman · April 21, 2012, 10:11:45 AM

Quote from: Little Al on April 21, 2012, 09:38:47 AM
Did you do the plating yet?

I have bought the Electroless kit and am planning to do this to a couple of 1851 Navy conversions. While not originally nickel plated, several reference books (including THE PEACEMAKERS) state that many percusion pistols were nickel plated at the time they were converted to cartridge.

I did the conversion of the pistols so I think I can handle this...I hope.

If it doesn't come out good, I can always send off to a professional. The extra cost would be my most recent installment to the "idiot tax."

I'll try and post some before and after pictures.....

No I haven't. It sounds like we are on the same project though. I figured I'd post my ideas here and someone was bound to have answers, there being a lot of knowledgeable Pards here. I'm only about 60 miles from Ford's Plating, who I'm told does all of Cimarron's work, but there is a bit of a back-log of work. So like you said, if I mess it up there is always the professional option. I'm looking forward to seeing the pics.

theshoer · April 28, 2012, 09:48:31 PM

I did a couple of '60's and they came out nice and believe it or not the nickel plate does last. I don't know what Midway's sell but I used Caswels plating

swampman · April 29, 2012, 01:50:03 AM

Quote from: theshoer on April 28, 2012, 09:48:31 PM
I did a couple of '60's and they came out nice and believe it or not the nickel plate does last. I don't know what Midway's sell but I used Caswels plating

It was the Caswell kit I was looking at. I believe it's the same set-up that Midway offers. Did you have to remove the nipples? What did you do about the bore and chambers or did you plate them too? Any problems with clearances like the arbor pin fit to the barrel or cylinder? Did it plate over the case coloring?

theshoer · April 29, 2012, 08:18:54 PM

took everything completely apart and plated everything individually, I plated R&D conversions not the normal cap and ball cylinders. The most important part is making sure you have everything polished how you want it. That is the only thing I did wrong was not polishing/buffing so I have a couple parts that are not as shiny as the rest

swampman · April 29, 2012, 11:32:55 PM

Quote from: theshoer on April 29, 2012, 08:18:54 PM
took everything completely apart and plated everything individually, I plated R&D conversions not the normal cap and ball cylinders. The most important part is making sure you have everything polished how you want it. That is the only thing I did wrong was not polishing/buffing so I have a couple parts that are not as shiny as the rest

A high polish is not a problem. I already have the barrel finished to a 1500 grit paper. But I was wondering about the case coloring on the frame. My Navy also has the R&D ported conversion. Did you also take apart the firing pin? What about the barrel wedge?

theshoer · April 30, 2012, 12:53:46 PM

yes I took everything apart don't sand it polish it with a buffing wheel and you do not have to worry about the blueing or case hardening

Flinch Morningwood · February 10, 2013, 07:55:43 PM

How did these come out?

I havent done mine yet as I am still working on the weapon.

Chase · February 22, 2013, 08:04:07 AM

Anyone have any experience with electroplating using a "Rapid Portable Plater"? I acquired this tool box looking device from a late friend's estate. They hot blues guns for a living. The last patent date in the manual is 1972. The word "cyanide" is used several times in the manual and the skull and bones logo is in there too. Just wondering if there are new chemicals that can be used without the health risks. Or did I waste five bucks?