Stripping nickel

[MosinVirus]

Hello,

I am planning to try to strip the nickel finish off a revolver and then to re-plate it in nickel.

I want to do it myself, since it seems to be very doable.

So the question I have is which stripper would anyone here recommend?
I see there are a Brownells option and a Caswell Option, aside from other DIY remedies.

Just wondering if one is better than the other.

Thank you,

[Sky_DiveR]

Don't think a chemical stripper is gonna work too well unless it's nickel spray paint. Removing Nickel and the copper(?) plating underneath requires electricity and an acid bath. Send it out to a plating shop. You could do it by yourself but why? Is it peeling?

[MosinVirus]

Don't think a chemical stripper is gonna work too well unless it's nickel spray paint. Removing Nickel and the copper(?) plating underneath requires electricity and an acid bath. Send it out to a plating shop. You could do it by yourself but why? Is it peeling?

Yes, the finish is worn. I want to see if it is doable and how doable. As in both - remove the old and add the new.
I have no interest in sending it out if I can do it myself, unless it is super expensive, super toxic, or super difficult.

[sealocan]

You know someone's going to ask so ...

what maker and model are you going to attempt this re-nickeling onto?

Get me wrong, I'm all for you learning a new process and doing whatever you want with your own property I just think people are going to be curious, like myself.

As for any applicable advice, I've reblued a friend's Ruger 10-22 with chemicals he got it some gun show and it came out pretty decent and I also blued the white steel barrel of a Kentucky rifle percussion kit and it also came out pretty decent looking in the end. I know those both don't apply to the process you're about to go for but I would suggest taking your time and having lots of cloth or plastic down to protect the areas you're working on including some good rubber gloves on your hands.

[tr6guns]

Bead blast and polish the gun, then get some Copper Brush plating from Caswell. Plate with copper first then polish again and do your nickel plating over the copper plate. If you don't plate the copper first the nickel plate will have a tendency to rust under the plating. For what its worth that's the way I do it..

[ar15barrels]

You know someone's going to ask so ...

what maker and model are you going to attempt this re-nickeling onto?

Break action S&W revolver.

[hermosabeach]

ask the guys who sell gunsmithing stuff... or watch their videos...

Brownells and Midway USA

Reverse the plating process...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INiyYbFUihA

[hermosabeach]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMZNVApYz1U

[hermosabeach]

[MosinVirus]

You know someone's going to ask so ...

what maker and model are you going to attempt this re-nickeling onto?

Get me wrong, I'm all for you learning a new process and doing whatever you want with your own property I just think people are going to be curious, like myself.

As for any applicable advice, I've reblued a friend's Ruger 10-22 with chemicals he got it some gun show and it came out pretty decent and I also blued the white steel barrel of a Kentucky rifle percussion kit and it also came out pretty decent looking in the end. I know those both don't apply to the process you're about to go for but I would suggest taking your time and having lots of cloth or plastic down to protect the areas you're working on including some good rubber gloves on your hands.

It is a S&W 32 hammerless break top revolver. I have blued stuff and parkerized stuff, but never attempted to plate stuff. Want to see if I can do it and how good of a result I can get at home.

Bead blast and polish the gun, then get some Copper Brush plating from Caswell. Plate with copper first then polish again and do your nickel plating over the copper plate. If you don't plate the copper first the nickel plate will have a tendency to rust under the plating. For what its worth that's the way I do it..

I figured I would be able to use the copper acetate to add copper and then nickel acetate to add nickel.

Break action S&W revolver.

Yup.

ask the guys who sell gunsmithing stuff... or watch their videos...

Brownells and Midway USA

Yes, I have watched those. Was just wondering if someone here had the experience and recommendations.

[Sky_DiveR]

Well that looks pretty easy.

I didn't know Midway or Brownells had those kind of kits.

[shafferds]

I recommend aluminum oxide blast to remove. Than polish, than Copper and nickle finish.

[MosinVirus]

I recommend aluminum oxide blast to remove. Than polish, than Copper and nickle finish.

I am thinking I want to try the stripper first. Seems to work.

[ar15barrels]

I am thinking I want to try the stripper first. Seems to work.

Either way, re-polish or brush or glass bead while it's in the white before you start plating.
The plating absolutely shows the prep work beneath it.
Shiny polish gives shiny plating.
Brushed finish gives brushed plating.
I would try a glass bead blasted finish with nickel over it...

[MosinVirus]

Either way, re-polish or brush or glass bead while it's in the white before you start plating.
The plating absolutely shows the prep work beneath it.
Shiny polish gives shiny plating.
Brushed finish gives brushed plating.

Of course.

I would try a glass bead blasted finish with nickel over it...

I may just do that too.