?How "deep" is nickel finish? Application process?

jsergovic

November 12, 2003 05:24

How deep is the nickel? Are the components milled from pre-plated pieces, that is to say, is the nickel itself milled? Or is it plated after the pieces are milled, then "re-milled" to get the correct factory specs?

I am buying a gun which I thought was stainless.
The color seemed more "substantially" similar to stainless than nickel, yet the firearm was not crafted in stainless. It was probably the lighting, or the excitement of buying two guns in one day.

SO, it isn't blueing, which wears off, and I wouldn't imagine anyone nickel-electroplating a gun, and with the roll markings there is no hint of an underlying color indicating a different metal...and metallurgists out there?

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  MIKE WISKEY

  November 12, 2003 06:17

  NICKEL IS 'PLATED ON' ALMOST LIKE CROME ON A BUMPER. IT WILL WEAR OFF AND IF THE UNDERLYING METAL IS NOT PROPERLY PREPARED IT WILL FLAKE OFF. 'ELECTROLES' NICKEL LOOKS ALMOST LIKE STAINLES.

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  nmyers

  November 12, 2003 09:18

  The answer to your question is: "It depends".
  
  The depth of plating is measured in microns (millionths of an inch). The time that the item is left in the plating tank determines the depth of the plating. Because plating is so thin, all other operations must be completed first; anything more than light polishing will go through most metal plating done to guns.
  
  Although most stainless steel guns sold today are matte finished, it is possible (even easy) to polish stainless steel so bright it looks like it was nickel plated.
  
  Neal

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