Nickel plating a SAA

[August]

I do not intend to attempt this myself, for many reasons.

But, I would like to know what is required to turn a blued/case hardened gun into a nickel plated one.

Has anybody here done this and, if so, how did it turn out?

Thanks.

[Fox Creek Kid]

Have a pro do it. Trust me. Lots of polishing work & harsh chemicals.

[Professor Marvel]

Greetings My Dear August-

For the average normal sane human being, I would concurr with Fox Creek Kid in a heartbeat.

However
For the mad-scientist-I-have-a-machine-shop-in-the-garage-a-forge-in-the-back-and-a-casting-foundry-out-in-the-side-yard sort of fellow (who is trying to anodize his own aluminum castings and do a bit of alchemy on the side ) ...

Here are the basic steps:
disassemble said revolver to the last screw and pin
strip the blue from all bits
chemical clean all the bits. CHEMICALLY. CLEAN. To the molecular level

polish all the bits. Perfectly. no dishing.

chemical clean all the bits. Again

Oops missed a spot- polish again

chemical clean all the bits. Again

fit the bits. oops. polish again

chemical clean all the bits. Again

Copper plate all the bits. notice the pits and gouges you never saw before
Fill the pits and gouges -or- polish again.

chemical clean all the bits. Again. Copper plate again. Repeat until the surface is perfect.

assemble the bits .... oops ... Copper plating too thick, adjust for proper fit (don't forget the thickness of the nickle)

chemical clean all the bits. Again

Now you can plate with Nickle.  Thick/ good enough? repeat.

Fit all the bits together, discover it's not quite right, and strip back down to bare steel.
Repeat.

Oh, but, you have never plated with copper or Nickle yet?

go to caswells, get their entire kit, book, video, make sure the neighbors don't find out or they will call the Toxic Waste Police down on your head..... and start all over again....

Oh yes, and don't get any on you....

start here,
http://www.smokstak.com/forum/showthread.php?t=85950

have fun, then call a pro to fix it 

yhs
prof marvel

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[The Pathfinder]

  Prof, thanks I needed that this morning to start my day. What I didn't need is to have to clean up the keyboard because I laughed while drinking my coffee. Even so, thank you, I'll be smiling the rest of the day.

[Fox Creek Kid]

Prof., I know of no one who does the copper flashing beforehand these days as electroless nickel plating is the norm.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=electroless+nickel+plating

[Professor Marvel]

AH the electroless nickle, well that's just ...... different .... never tried it yet,

ooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhh

no anode shadow
no fumes
no hazmat

 i will have to try this after my sinuses forget what i tried to do to them ..... :-)
this looks most excellent, i will have to research the hardness and wear resistance

For a highly polished finish (especially on a real Colt SAA, since this is in that forum )  I will still hire a pro as my polishing is substandardly unshila **

I personally would prefer a satin or bead-blast finish, on say a 1911 ...  depending....
as it hides the flaws betterer.

i am hoxwever still working on the alchemical  lead-into-gold bit... the best method so far seems to be
- melt the lead
- cast into big-lube bullets
- sell the bullets
- buy the gold

yhs
prof marvel

**(lakota for "pathetic")

[Professor Marvel]

Prof, thanks I needed that this morning to start my day. What I didn't need is to have to clean up the keyboard because I laughed while drinking my coffee. Even so, thank you, I'll be smiling the rest of the day.

Ahhhhh  my work here is done ....

yhs prof marvel

[wildman1]

It's much better ta laugh and spit the CAWFEE onto yer keyboard than it is ta blow it thru yer nose. Altho that might hep yer sinuses there Prof. ynshs  WM

[Old Doc]

If you are serious about having the gun plated, the experts are at Accurate Plating and Weaponry (www.apwcogan.com.)
I would confer with them on the project. I have a very nice .45 Uberti that was hard chromed by them and is one of my favorite single actions.