Electroless Nickel Plating

[Warhammer]

Sure, the plate builds at the rate of .001 per hour. .001 is a adequate thickness for most applications. That would reduce your nipple thread diameter by .002, that would not be a problem. If your only going to do one item you should PM Bill, he is set up for doing that type of custom work. The kit is kind of spendy for just one small job.

I'll have to shoot him a PM after I get my Dragoon in a couple of weeks.

Question on the electroless nickel plating: Does this have protective properties? I'm wondering if plating the barrel and cylinder would make clean up easier and help keep the salts and acids in the BP from damaging the steel. Or is it really just a cosmetic thing?

I'm thinking a Dragoon with the color case hardened frame and loading ram would look really cool with the silver grip frame, cylinder and barrel.

Oh, and I assume any blueing would need to be removed before plating, correct?

 

[madcratebuilder]

Question on the electroless nickel plating: Does this have protective properties? I'm wondering if plating the barrel and cylinder would make clean up easier and help keep the salts and acids in the BP from damaging the steel. Or is it really just a cosmetic thing?

Nickle is a better finish, or I should say more protective than standard bluing. How it well hold up to black powder I don't know. Many old revolver are nickle plated and fired cartridges loaded with bp.

I'm thinking a Dragoon with the color case hardened frame and loading ram would look really cool with the silver grip frame, cylinder and barrel.

Oh, and I assume any blueing would need to be removed before plating, correct?

Yes, the metal needs preparation. Any imperfections well show through the nickle, the nickle well even enhance them.
I plan on plating several grip frames. I have one brass frame and steel cylinder to plate, then I'll see how it holds up to BP.

 

[arcticap]

Traditons applies "matte" nickel both externally and inside the bore of some of their long guns. It's noticiably slicker, easier to clean and very durable.
But that's not the same finish as the glossy nickel plating that's applied to their C&B revolvers over a brass frame and steel parts. While the nickel finish on the good ones may hold up, I have seen one of their factory second pistols where pieces of the plating had flaked off like just like when paint cracks, chips off and is missing.
I've also wondered if they compensate for any dimensional difference within the bore of their long guns during manufacturing before they factory plate them.
Other companies like Investarms have applied a chrome lining inside their barrels and I would guess that they would have compensated for that application of plating before it was applied.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

Caswell electroless nickel over T-6 aluminum.

 

[madcratebuilder]

That's a nice looking knife. I have done a couple from blanks, just small patch knifes. Building a folder has to be a lot more work. I was surprised at all the raw parts suppliers for building knives.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

Thank you.
Building a folder with all those buttons is even harder!