Nickeled SAA Protection
I picked up a few years back a nice factory nickel plated Colt SAA and was curious as to what I need to protect the finish with......it's a shooter( I shoot [;)]) in very nice condition, I wipe it down with wax polish and can make it shine nicely but is that really protecting the finish ?? Any special or superior products for nickel ? I wish it were blue instead [:(], I don't like worrying about finishes on pistols but on a nickel plated one I feel it's my obligation.
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The curators at the Springfield Armory National Museum only use wax to protect the metal of guns for long term storage. I see no point in applying wax to a gun that you fire on occasion. If the finish isn't shiny after wiping with a clean cotton cloth alone, you may have other problems.
The primary protection of your carbon steel gun IS the nickel plate. I would wipe it sparingly with gun oil after cleaning in order to protect any area where the plate may have been abraded.
Neal0 -
I would be extra careful using any copper fouling cleaner at all. I like oil. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by charliemeyer007
I would be extra careful using any copper fouling cleaner at all. I like oil.
+1 Definitely do NOT use Hoppes #9 solvent on nickel plating. Just a soft cloth, lightly oiled, will do.0 -
Thanks for the replys, I'm aware of the dangers of harsh cleaners to nickel and avoid them at all cost but am using paste wax and oil but have been curious as to if I'm missing something better, just don't want the plating to start flaking like I see on many if it can be avoided. Thanks again [;)] 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Junkballer
Thanks for the replys, I'm aware of the dangers of harsh cleaners to nickel and avoid them at all cost but am using paste wax and oil but have been curious as to if I'm missing something better, just don't want the plating to start flaking like I see on many if it can be avoided. Thanks again [;)]
I think you've gotten good advice above. Normal gun cleaning products should be OK, but you need to scrupulously avoid any and all copper stripping/cleaning agents.
I don't think there is anything you can put on the surface of the nickel that will prevent flaking. That happens when the nickel plating comes off the underlying metal (usually a base copper layer). Apart from avoiding things that strip copper, probably the best thing you can do to prevent that is to try and avoid dropping the gun, banging into hard surfaces, etc. Basically the same things you'd do to ANY gun to try and preserve the finish.
But realistically, if you're going to use the gun on a regular basis, ultimately you're going to get some wear on the finish. Put differently, the only way to absolute ensure that the finish stays pristine is to put the gun in a case and never take it out! Fortunately, nickel plating is pretty durable so as long as you aren't too rough with the gun, you should be fine.0 -
There is no copper plating under your nickel. 0
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