Stripping Nickel Finish Question

[Fox Creek Kid]

Does anyone know definitively that if a case colored frame that has been nickelled will still retain its case colors if the nickel is stripped? I'm guessing it will be muted at best. 

[Pettifogger]

I can't imagine any case color being left.  You have to buff the metal parts before the plating process begins.  Then it is copper plated, then nickeled.  If there isn't bare steel the plating isn't going to stick very well.

[Fox Creek Kid]

No copper, electroplated nickel. No one does copper underneath anymore that I know of. It's a modern gun, not antique. I guess I should have pointed that out. 

[Coffinmaker]

FCK,

Your not really going to strip the Nickel from that Type II are ya???

Coffinmaker

[Fox Creek Kid]

FCK,

Your not really going to strip the Nickel from that Type II are ya???

Coffinmaker

I should be so lucky. Alas, it's worse yet.  

A Colt Frontier SS I had nickelled is spalling in spots and it has only been shot once. It's obvious from the appearance that it is from a bad prep job. I talked to the finish man who contracted a plater to do it. Their guarantee was for one year which has passed. Oh well. I talked to Colt and they want $325 for a refinish. My fear is that when they repolish before plating that they will be "heavy handed". I also thought about Ford's refinishing as they have a legendary following on the S&W Forum.

Another option is to say the hell with it and shoot it as the originals spalled as well.

[Coffinmaker]

Oh whata bummer.  I know what you mean.  I had some plating done a couple of years ago on a Conversion.  The "buffing" was more like heavy sanding.  The platers response was "oh were sorry but ....."  I think I'd just shoot it.  I do have a set of nickel Uberti Thunderer's from about 10 - 12 years ago I shoot a lot.  So far no spalling even where I had to cut dove tails into the barrels for front sights.  Knock on wood.

Coffinmaker

[Virginia Gentleman]

I can not recommend Ford's enough and they do everything possible never to over buff or round edges.