Electroplating a Receiver or a Barrel ??

[myarmor]

I was wondering if it would be possible to electroplate a receiver or barrel?

I am curious, as you can electroplate in different variations, nickel, bronze, chrome, black chrome, gold silver, etc....
Here is a site that sales some kits from small to very large....the small is on the right side "Plug-N-Plate"
http://www.caswellplating.com/kits/

If it's possible would it be durable? Worthwhile? Safe?
A black chrome would look awesome, as would a Bronze set in the BC stocks!

Just tossing it out there to see what you all think.

-Aaron

[knight0334]

I'm in the process of plating one of my BC's receivers right now.

Keep in mind, with certain final surfaces, you must plate base metals first.   Example: final=silver,  must be on top of copper and/or nickel.  I do believe chrome needs a nickel base first.  Sorta works like paint and primer.  Also beware that some plating kits require cyanide for an electrolyte.

Cheap electroplating on puts on a thin, really thin, layer.  Besure to invest in a package that will coat a wearable surface several microns thick.

My BC's reciever, trigger guard and forearm spacer will be mirror polished at the copper stage, then coated nickel if needed, then silver as thick as I can.  The silver will then be mirror polished.    My trigger, hammer and action lever will be plated 18-24K gold.

Wood work will be a custom thumbhole stock and target forearm made out of the finest walnut I can afford.

[myarmor]

That sounds like a beautiful rifle once it's finished. And you have to post pics of it!
What kind of kit are you using?

[knight0334]

When I get home this weekend I'll dig up the brandname.  ....but, I am think it is the Caswell brand that you mentioned.

[ken2222]

Thanks Guys.....yet another source of materials for those "customs".....Please let us know how the plating works out....   Ken

[myarmor]

Yeap, after talking to you a little and thinking about your project I was curious about this route. If it would be worthwhile or not. If it works well, it sure would make for a different style Handi thats for sure.
Sounds promising though

[ken2222]

I'm just gonna follow you around.....you're making my life pretty easy right now.

[myarmor]

Just trying to help when I can. Just happens I have been able to today I guess.
I not really sure this would be a good idea to do on a barrel though, as I am guessing that it would do the inside as well as the outside.... I am not real sure as I have never done any of this kind of work before
Anyone else do any of this kind of work before?

[troy5775]

I work in a factory where we eloctroplate plastic automotive parts. To chrome plate you first need a copper coat then a nickel coat and finally a chrome coat. I have seen people try to plate metal parts before. All I can say is be careful and make sure you know what you are doing or you can mess up your parts. Take the time and do it right. Make sure the part is properly prepped. Also many of these chemicals are highly toxic and/or corrosive.

[shaner]

i thought all the chrome  finish came in a can that says rustoelum on it??? the caps all shiney and bright?

[tallyho]

knight0334,

Man, that sounds like a one-of-a-kind Handi. I would love to have a piece about it on the www.handiholic.com website. If you are interested in doing that, please contact me off the thread.

Cheers
Kerry

[knight0334]

Handiholics...

I'll write something up as I go on this project, as well as take pics along the way.   I'm just getting started now, not sure when I'll have it done only being home on weekends.

Robert

[Cookiemann]

Call me dumb, but how do you keep from changing the tolerances on all of the machined and fitted surfaces, IF YOU ARE ADDING METAL??  I thought all plated parts were machined after plating or were made smaller to take into account the addition of the plating.  I guess I don't know how that all works after all.

cookiemann

[knight0334]

the bearing surfaces of the trigger, hammer, etc can be polished back down to the original metal.  The breach face can be dealt with easily as well.   Those are the only real critical areas where the original tolerance may need to be kept at spec.

[CouchTater]

The processes used to properly plate firearms are quite different than those used for bumpers. Do a web search for "hard chrome", there are a number of shops that do proper hard chroming of firearms. There are also two well-known proprietary nickel plating processes, Robar and NP3, and Brownells used to sell an electroless nickel plating kit; haven't looked at their catalog for awhile. Black chrome looks nice but at least one shop that does it says that its not all that corrosion resistant compared to hard chrome.

Plating does obviously add thickness, but if its done professionally it is quite thin. Since your basic off the rack firearm is mass manufactured rather than hand-fitted, there is enough clearance on most parts; but it can affect parts fit.

The results of plating is highly dependent on parts prep and process control, if you're not willing to put in a lot of time and money on prep work I wouldn't expect the results to be satisfactory. And any plating inside the chamber and bore presents real problems of durability and safety.  I highly recommend having a professional firearms plating shop do one for you.