At Home HardChrome

[Gonzoinc]

Anyone have experience with doing their own hardchroming?
is it as easy as it sounds?
Found the Caswell kit and thinking about getting one.

[John]

Somehow, I do not think hardchrome is such a simple job that can be done at home.

[Constantine-1911]

How much do you think it would cost to hard chrome say a blued RIA or a blued p89 Ruger???

[Cthulhu]

As I recall, most metal plating/depositing processes require vats of hazardous chemicals. Not only would they be unsafe to have in the home in large quantities, there are probably all kinds of state and federal laws regarding the storage and disposal of those chemicals.

I seem to recall seeing the price of hard-chroming a slide and frame at around $200, give or take. Not sure if that counts removing the old finish. I'm pretty sure you don't want to hardchrome over bluing, but I'm definitely not an authority on the matter.

-JT

[Frank]

I notice in the Caswell site's description of the hard chrome kit, they say:

"Acid mist is produced during the chrome plating process from the vigorous action of the higher current used. This mist could be compared to dropping several 'Alka Seltzers' into water, and needs to be controlled by either making a small fume hood, (a cooking stove hood is ideal) or wearing a respirator fitted with 'Acid Gas' cartridges. Fume Control Balls and chemical mist suppressant are supplied with the kit to reduce this problem."

I think that I'll send any guns I want hard chromed to Tripp.

DVC

[Joni Lynn]

If I was wanting a gun hard chromed I'd send it out to Tripp. I just don't believe that a do it at home kit will give satisfactory and lasting results.

[rondawg]

Make a visit to a chrome plating shop, that'll make up your mind about doing it yourself.

[A.B.]

Make a visit to a chrome plating shop, that'll make up your mind about doing it yourself.That is excellent advice.

[shovelwrench]

YEP,
lots of nasty chemicals, EPA standards, and then theres the math required to get the thickness and quality of finish you want, not to mention the knowledge base needed in metal finishes before you even get to a dipping tank.






YEAH,
Send it out. You'll have a lot of time and money wrapped up in something that did'nt come out how you wanted.

And stripping off what you put on just cost you more.

[Hill]

If you want to consider Electroless plating with nickle (does NOT necessarily result in a shiny chrome-like finish) Brownell's will be glad to sell you everything you need.

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=1069&title=ELECTROLESS%20NICKEL%20PLATING

[shovelwrench]

Electroless nickel does'nt have near the durability of hard chrome, and, hard chrome is rarely a polish finish(on a pistol)

[4sfed]

I notice in the Caswell site's description of the hard chrome kit, they say:

"Acid mist is produced during the chrome plating process from the vigorous action of the higher current used. This mist could be compared to dropping several 'Alka Seltzers' into water, and needs to be controlled by either making a small fume hood, (a cooking stove hood is ideal) or wearing a respirator fitted with 'Acid Gas' cartridges. Fume Control Balls and chemical mist suppressant are supplied with the kit to reduce this problem."
If you try this in your shop all your unplated tools and equipment will turn red . . . rust. Our plating shop is kept at a lower pressure than the rest of the building so air flows into the plating shop.

Jim

[Timothy]

I've been checking out the Caswell site for awhile now, and from the reviews, it does seem doable by the average person.

There's an old thread in the RIA forum where someone nickle plated a slide with the Caswell electroless nickle kit and they were pleased with the results.

The only thing holding me back from trying the hard chrome kit is finding a power supply with enough amps that doesn't cost an arm and leg.
If you do try it, practice on something first and please post pics.

[Gonzoinc]

I guess it was a bad idea
:(

[rondawg]

I guess it was a bad idea
:(
Not necessarily a "bad" idea, but probably an impractical one.

[grendelbane]

I agree that the hard chrome process looks to be impractical for home use. However, the boron nitride electroless nickel kit looks more promising.

It is not as hard as hard chrome, however. Still, it is an exotic finish that looks like can be done at home.

Yes, I know it is not as easy as it sounds. Still, I think I may keep this in mind for a future project.

Any one have any experience with either boron nitride electroless nickel finishing? Or electroless nickel finishing by itself? My sole experience was owning an electroless nickel PPK/S back in the last century.