60s Python finish turned yellow?
Howdy gents, I picked up a really nice early 60s nickel Python here last year and put 4 boxes through it last weekend. Boy does it shoot nice. I wiped it down and came home, and when I went to clean it there was a big yellow thumb print on the cylinder. I scrubbed the heck out of it with Lucas CLP solvent/oil spray and a cotton cloth and cleaned it thoroughly, and the thumb print wouldn’t come off. In fact the yellowing has spread all over the left side of the gun. I followed that with CRC Brakekleen to try and remove the yellowing. No luck. The Lucas CLP (clean, lubricate, protect) was sold at Cabelas in their gun department.
i can’t believe I’m the only person stupid enough in 57 years to do something to yellow the finish. Is there some rule I should have known that says ALWAYS ONLY USE “XXXXXX” PRODUCT ON COLTS YOU FOOL!!!! I hate the idea that I’ve screwed up something that survived this long in good shape.
Is there anything to remove the yellow tint? Can the factory polish it out?
Feeling like an idiot in Alaska.
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If everything fails, Send it to these people.
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Thanks, that looks like a good shop.
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I would opine that someone wanting a collectable asset that would appreciate over time kept the gun as a display piece not a shooter - and applied some sort of chemical or polishing agent to make it shine like a mirror...
I imagine this product over time ruined the factory finish - or that your heating the gum up through handling and firing combined with the age of the product caused it to fail spectacularly...
Just my educated guess.
Mike
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I always under the impression, that any product with ammonia would attack nickel finishes. Check that Lucas stuff out, to see what type of solvent it has. It might contain something with ammonia.
I remember when I was in the service. Corrosive ammo, was still in the supply chain for our M 1's. We either had to use the old brown army cans or Hoppes #9. After shooting to make sure they wouldn't rust. That Hoppes with ammonia, was potent stuff. Wouldn't take much, to mess up a nickel finish.0 -
MrMike's reply makes sense, the Python shows nearly zero wear anywhere. I just figured I'm not going to be "that guy" with a nice gun that can't or won't shoot it. I guess it's a lesson learned. DAMN it makes me sick to do this to something that survived nearly 6 decades and still looked new. It's like throwing a can of paint on a '57 Chevy.
@gjshaw if I send it off to those people will it have a stout enough finish that I can USE the thing? And does that refinish screw up its collectibility? If it's more collectible all stock with the yellowed factory finish, I'll leave it as is. My kids will care more about that than it being tinted.0 -
Not much you can do to restore the value, If it had never been shot you lowered the price, fubar on the cleaning, even more, send it for "factory" redo, still not original. You now have a very nice shooter as it is. My 2 cents. 0 -
I have been told that you never soak a plated gun in solvent, such as Hoppe's #9. I never tested that, I didn't want to sacrifice a gun. In your case, I think a previous owner made a dumb mistake, & managed to fix it well enough to fool you. Move on, there's likely no way to get reimbursement.
The reason why people pay several hundred $ for restoration at places like Ford's is because they are experts, &, when they are finished, your gun will look like new for a lifetime.
Neal
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I would VERY CAREFULLY try Flitz on a small spot, maybe on the face of the cylinder. Take a Q tip, dip it in the Flitz and try cleaning the cylinder face with that. I keep a large tube of Flitz and have used it many times. It can work magic but be carful, nickel is just a thin coating. Good Luck!! 3 -
Agree with Barz, 
, had this done to me with a Smith model 15. Bright shiny and then YELLOW after shooting. I tried a few things back in the day and it stayed. That toothpaste trick I would try, like Pepsodent with baking soda and I also am not a doctor, only play one with the wife, well used to.6 -
I'm no fan of nickel plated handguns. The only one, I recall actually owning. Was a Model 19 snubbie, that I bought off a cop. He carried it, and shot it for qualification . As he worked plainclothes, serving warrants etc. This is way back, prior to their change over to 9 mm autos.
Wasn't yellow when I bought it. And was still shiny nickel when I sold it. I don't by it, that nickel plated guns will turn yellow from the heat of firing. My belief is that some chemical reaction, caused the OP's Python, to turn yellow.0 -
Thanks gents, for taking the time to write your thoughts. I collect old watches too and Flitz is part of my arsenal. Also toothpaste, for cleaning and polishing acrylic crystals. I appreciate the chemistry @Barzillia and the people admitting they've had guns go yellow on them too. I feel slightly less stupid. 0 -
forgemonkey said:Google; ,,,,,,, What turns a nickel finish yellow ,,,,,,,,Great googly moogly!!! - I would be real careful using those methods mentioned in the link.
Both will take blueing right off a gun.
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Agree with Barz
Nickel plating is usually done over CU. Heat and solvents can leach the CU out if the plating is worn or not applied very thick in the first place giving a colored appearance. Sounds to me like the plating job was not that great.
I know its a Python, but I have seen crappy plating jobs on SW and Colt before.3 -
Not a chance in hell I would do that. But it is on the internet? rotf!drobs said:forgemonkey said:Google; ,,,,,,, What turns a nickel finish yellow ,,,,,,,,Great googly moogly!!! - I would be real careful using those methods mentioned in the link.
Both will take blueing right off a gun.
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It is just a yellow python..a rare species 3 -
It is ruined. Send it to me. I will pay shipping.
(GREEN FONT)3 -
Interesting and appreciated info. 0 -
I will up the ante, 100.00 and shipping 3 -
He Dog will be around soon to give his synopsisselect-fire said:It is just a yellow python..a rare species
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I think I have seen pictures of yellow ball pythons, you might be onto something. 3 -
Alright who’s been messing with me? Am I going blind (no comments) or is there some unknown alchemy going on?
I pulled “Ball” the Yellow Python down to take a pic and show you guys the extent of the discoloration. I gritted my teeth and unzipped (THE CASE! good lord you guys have filthy minds) and this is what I saw.
Where’s all the discoloration I’ve been
whiningtalking about?! WHO TOOK MY DAMN DISCOLORATION!Hmmmm let me look closer.
Okay right there in the frame next to the cylinder opening there’s the tiniest smidgen tint of yellow. The rest is ..... gone.
Guess I’ll quit complaining now! Thanks to everyone for your input. Now I’m off to read chemistry books.
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Nanuq907: 31541939541531/comments/31541982565275
Alright who’s been messing with me? Am I going blind (no comments) or is there some unknown alchemy going on?
I pulled “Ball” the Yellow Python down to take a pic and show you guys the extent of the discoloration. I gritted my teeth and unzipped (THE CASE! good lord you guys have filthy minds) and this is what I saw.
https://us.v-cdn.net/6031683/uploads/W3P5DUCZB2TI/image.jpg
Where’s all the discoloration I’ve been
whiningtalking about?! WHO TOOK MY DAMN DISCOLORATION!Hmmmm let me look closer.
https://us.v-cdn.net/6031683/uploads/TOP0TLT5D5KW/image.jpg
Okay right there in the frame next to the cylinder opening there’s the tiniest smidgen tint of yellow. The rest is ..... gone.
Guess I’ll quit complaining now! Thanks to everyone for your input. Now I’m off to read chemistry books.
Wait till you get our bills before you thank us. lol
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It's the first manifestation, of old timers disease. The second is when you get up to take a wiz. Than you realize, there is something you forgot to do. Don't ask me how I know. 6 -
Exothermic reaction - the beginning of a progressive degenerative process - the more you shoot it and or heat it the worse it may get...
Or possibly whatever the previous owner used to make it shiny enough to shave with burned off or the residue / furniture polish like wax build up changed its color or refraction index - went turning bell on you...
Might happen again if the nickel plate job was not done well or if the chemical paste applied further degraded the finish or has bonded with / penetrated the surface...
Again without being hands on and getting first hand tactile and sensory feedback my opinions are speculative...
But this is not my first rodeo.
Consider me the devils advocate or the antagonist in this tale - add my input to the sum of knowledge and weight it's probative value...
Mike
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Glad to see that the problem isn't a bad as you feared. With regard to the "yellow" finish, it might have been the result of someone applying wax to it. For a long time, many folks believed that the best way to preserve the finish of almost anything was to put a layer of wax on it. Even lots of professional museum curators swore by waxing wood, metal, etc. almost everything. The most well known wax is Reniassance Wax, but I've seen folks take an old can of Johnson's floor wax and rub it all over there stuff. It might, just might look good for a while and it does offer some protection from water, but you've probably seen old floors or furniture covered it layers of old wax and know what it looks like. When you heat most waxes, they tend to turn yellow and as the object cools down, the wax hardens again, resulting in the evern more yellow. But fortunately, most waxes can be easily removed with mild solvents; you just have to make certain that you wipe it down thoroughly several times to make sure you remove all the waxy residue. Another even bigger problem with the wax treatment occurs after you wax a metal object and then store it in a foam lined storage box. As the foam deteriorates it combines with the wax and the tiny bits of "dead" foam stick to the wax. It comes as a real shock to lots of folks who thought that they had protected their valuable item before they stored it. It looks ruined, but once again, a mild solvent, even just rubbing alcohol, will generally remove the wax and the dead foam. Just go slow, don't get frustrated and rub too hard or try a stronger solvent, keep applying the solvent and very, very gently wiping it off until it's all gone. Best of luck 0 -
Well that sorta wraps my first bitch-n-moan session here. I'm sure I'll have more to whine about discuss in the future.
As a thank-you let me offer FREE DRINKS!!!! That's right, I'm pouring single malt and have a cooler full of IPAs right here. For the next 2 hours all are welcome, and I start pouring in 15 minutes. Watch out for the bear in the yard. He's got stinkeye down to an art form.0 -
Too true! You know what's really not fair? By the time we get old enough to afford nice toys, we can't SEE the bloody things any more to enjoy them!rufe-snow said:It's the first manifestation, of old timers disease0 -
Nanuq907 - I like this guy. 😁
Welcome to the Forums.
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And, you don't want to store a gun in a zippered gun case. Depending upon ambient temperature changes & relative humidity, the zipper may attract moisture & cause the gun to rust.Neal
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Good point, thanks. I store another in a fireproof safe and that makes me nervous about humidity too.
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