Do it myself chrome plating? possible?

[Guest NashvegasMatt]

I am a typical do it yourself guy who wants to start to maybe mess around with DIY chrome plating kits. Honestly I've chewed up the internet searching for how to do this, but to no avail. I thought about sending part away to professionals, but I'm refusing to pay $200+ for two or three parts. I want to start small, do some test pieces... Screws, slide stop, safety. Nothing that if I mess it up I'm gonna be mad about. I like the way my 1911 looks but since it is not my EDC, I want it to look a little dressier. The problem is that I can't find very reliable information on how to get started. I know people do this, but the question is... have any of you? If so, any advise for a newbie? Is this stuff you have to buy online, or can you get it around town? Thanks in advance

Edited February 4, 2011 by NashvegasMatt

[Dolomite_supafly]

Have you actully called about the price of plating?

I called a local plating shop last year about doing some small parts and if I remember right it was less than $50.

Dolomite

[East_TN_Patriot]

I am certain you are going to spend well more than a couple hundred bucks just to get started. Brownell's sells an electroless nickel kit and just the chemicals are about $400 and that doesn't include the shipping or costs to set up the tanks, etc. The chemicals are pretty nasty as well, so you'll have to have a dedicated spot for it and the proper safety equipment around. Then you need the tools, equipment, and knowledge needed to properly do the job. Surface prep is key for any refinishing project, and that's really where the skill comes in. If you do a crappy job preparing the surface, the outcome will look crappy. I considered getting into this sort of thing, but decided it wasn't worth the time, effort, and cost as a simple DIY thing.

In any case, here is the link to the stuff they sell:

World's Largest Supplier of Firearm Accessories, Gun Parts and Gunsmithing Tools - BROWNELLS

Edited February 1, 2011 by East_TN_Patriot

[gunrunner32]

I was goofing around and looking up how much it would cost to get started plating and getting the chemicals from Brownells. The chemicals themselves would have been around $275 but then when you get into reading about the setup you need you're going to spend about $500 more in equipment and that's doing it cheap, but for $700 or $800 you can get a home plating kit which could potentially pay for itself over time. All you have to worry about is the chemicals...kinda harsh on skin and if you're worried about it, the environment. Good luck if you try, and if you do let me know how you did it because I wouldn't mind starting plating, that or case color hardening but that's about $2500 to get started with a kiln and some crucibles and all.

[Guest NashvegasMatt]

seriously?!?!?!... here in nashville, the response I'm getting from the custom shops is that they won't do gun parts because of the abuse they take.... in other words, they can't warranty the work because of the use. And from the others, the just do vehicle parts. Do you remember where you called around to... sorry.

[shaftbass]

Possible alternative to DIY: Welcome to TechPlate, Inc. Firearms retail plating price list

[Guest NashvegasMatt]

Possible alternative to DIY: Welcome to TechPlate, Inc. Firearms retail plating price list

$4 for small parts isn't bad, but what is considered to be a small part? I'll have to call them tomorrow.

[Stainless]

Uselton's in Franlklin does Ceracoating, but not chrome

[mav]

$25 for a gallon of Hydrochloric acid? Man, that is outrageously expensive.

[Guest NashvegasMatt]

I found a guy in PA that does small gun parts for a small price, the problem is, that his shop is still backed up from Xmas, and quite frankly....I'm not a patient person.

[Sidewinder]

Do be careful! Years ago, I used to teach cadmium plating, copper plating, chrome plating, anodizing and heat treating of ferrous metals. The tanks have an assortment of cemicals that can be "very" dangerous! Sodium Cyanide and Hydrochloric Acid is what they used to use in the gas chambers at San Quinton! In the prep work, the parts have to go through no less than three or four tanks, along with rinse tanks between them. These chemicals... the ones in one tank should never be mixed with the chemicals from the other tanks... the reason for the rinse tanks. Even with thorough rinsing, porous metals, like pot metal, can carry enough chemicals from one tank to another to be extremely dangerous! I've seen a grown man knocked to his knees from breathing one whiff of the toxic fumes from mixing these toxic chemicals. The process was considered so hazardous that the plating shop was located across the street from where "immediate" medical attention could be had! Trust me... this is not a process for a "Shade tree plating operation". I still have all of my lesson plans, and plating data, but would not personally attempt this outside a "properly equipped" plating shop.

[Guest NashvegasMatt]

Do be careful! Years ago, I used to teach cadmium plating, copper plating, chrome plating, anodizing and heat treating of ferrous metals. The tanks have an assortment of cemicals that can be "very" dangerous! Sodium Cyanide and Hydrochloric Acid is what they used to use in the gas chambers at San Quinton! In the prep work, the parts have to go through no less than three or four tanks, along with rinse tanks between them. These chemicals... the ones in one tank should never be mixed with the chemicals from the other tanks... the reason for the rinse tanks. Even with thorough rinsing, porous metals, like pot metal, can carry enough chemicals from one tank to another to be extremely dangerous! I've seen a grown man knocked to his knees from breathing one whiff of the toxic fumes from mixing these toxic chemicals. The process was considered so hazardous that the plating shop was located across the street from where "immediate" medical attention could be had! Trust me... this is not a process for a "Shade tree plating operation". I still have all of my lesson plans, and plating data, but would not personally attempt this outside a "properly equipped" plating shop.

thank you very much for this information...it helped me make my decision... I think I'm gonna just send the parts off. Although I don't want to wait weeks on end, it's not worth the risk.

[Guest mrl4ng]

I think there are more important questions to ask here...

liiiikkkeeee

WHAT are you Chroming and WHY?

[Guest NashvegasMatt]

I think there are more important questions to ask here...

liiiikkkeeee

WHAT are you Chroming and WHY?

if you read the first post like everyone else... you wouldn't have to ask this.... so i think there are more important questions to ask here liiiikkkeeee

WHY are you wasting my time, by increasing your post count while addding nothing to the conversation..?

[peejman]

thank you very much for this information...it helped me make my decision... I think I'm gonna just send the parts off. Although I don't want to wait weeks on end, it's not worth the risk.

Smart choice. As stated, the chemicals involved are quite unpleasant on a good day.

[Guest adamoxtwo]

if you read the first post like everyone else... you wouldn't have to ask this.... so i think there are more important questions to ask here liiiikkkeeee

WHY are you wasting my time, by increasing your post count while addding nothing to the conversation..?

:rofl:HAHAHAHAHA!!! I have also wondered about this. Thanks to this Thread I wouldn't even consider it at the moment. However, if I ever get a shop and have a place (Away from the house) I may consider finding some used equipment and give it a go. For a small project I think it's wise to send it out.

[I_Like_Pie]

Matt....Just send it to Coal Creek in Knoxvegas. They charge a reasonable rate and I have heard not one bad thing about their work. They do both Nickel and Chrome plating.

The set up costs of a DIY rig are pretty high.

[TGO David]

Uselton's in Franlklin does Ceracoating, but not chrome

How is this even relevant?

[I_Like_Pie]

If you do find someone in the Nashville area that does it well and reasonably priced...let us know.

[Guest GunTroll]

if you read the first post like everyone else... you wouldn't have to ask this.... so i think there are more important questions to ask here liiiikkkeeee

WHY are you wasting my time, by increasing your post count while addding nothing to the conversation..?

That was awesome. And I got another post count too!

[dlm37015]

if i want chromeplating i use aaa plating in nashville

as for nickel plating i do it at home pretty easy learned how ih high school