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Dulling A Nickel Finish

waltermoe
Kind of like the idea of a nickel finish as far as protecting the surface of metal, but I don't care for the real bright nickel. I was looking at this one pistol that I kind of like, just do not care for the brighter nickel. Has anyone ever tried to dull a nickel finish?
I though maybe a light acid or heat treatment. The tone of brushed nickel or that of a every day 5 cent nickel would work for me.
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • MG1890
    Brush it.
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  • yoshmyster
    Remember it's thin and if you hit a soft spot you might flake a chunk off.
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  • charliemeyer007
    I don't think nickel holds up well enough to worry about. Get something in stainless steel and have it bead blasted. No finish to flake off, rust resistant all the way threw instead of just at the surface.
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  • nmyers
    If that's what you really want, look at the older Colt models in "electroless nickel". Problem is, the nickel is still subject to stains & delamination when damaged or exposed to certain solvents.

    There are some companies that apply a baked on finish that looks like satin nickel, if you already own the gun.

    Otherwise, Charlie is right, best to go with stainless steel.

    Neal
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  • He Dog
    EVERY older nickeled gun I have seen that was actually used and not a safe queen has nickel flaking off. I don't see it as a great protectant. I have a lot of stainless though.
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  • SP45
    You can turn high gloss nickel finish into a satin/stainless look by bead blasting (with glass beads) Use on lower line pressure.
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  • fatercat
    how about camo tape?
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  • tsr1965
    quote:Originally posted by He Dog
    EVERY older nickeled gun I have seen that was actually used and not a safe queen has nickel flaking off. I don't see it as a great protectant. I have a lot of stainless though.


    +1

    Nickel is one of the most fragile finishes there is. If it is not a high condition Colt or S&W, you might be able to lightly bead blast it, to get your desired results, but expect to end up with a mess.
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  • waltermoe
    I will have to agree with everyone that it is not worth the effort, just thought that maybe someone had done this in the past with success. This gun I was looking at was never offered in stainless steel and only a few were ever blued. I know the flaking comes from solvents getting under the nickel and eating away at the copper under the nickel as nickel will not stick to steel, bead blasting would be the best avenue but as said then I would be thinning the nickel even more. I did get one suggestion of soaking the pieces in bacon grease for a couple of days, not sure how that would turn out, animal fats can have a acidity effect, but more than likely it would just make me hungry for a BLT. sandwich. Thanks everyone for the input.
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  • cbyerly
    I agree with SP45. I tried to remove a nickel finish with glass beads and it did just turn to a nice matt finish.
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