hard chrome questions

[phil conrad]

Hello. I am thinking of having a 1911 hard chromed. Is there any one in the greater LA area that does this ? Thanks

[em9sredbeam]

Chrome or nickel-plated? From what I have heard nickel wears a little better.

[Dutch Henry]

Try this: http://www.techplate.com/firearms_pl.htm

[Richard Erichsen]

Hello. I am thinking of having a 1911 hard chromed. Is there any one in the greater LA area that does this ? Thanks

The options are really down to electroless nickel or decorative chrome, which is more nickel than chrome and not as hard wearing.

R

[redcliff]

The options are really down to electroless nickel or decorative chrome, which is more nickel than chrome and not as hard wearing.

R

I have no idea what this means. Why is hard chrome not an option? Its not the same as the finishes you reference.

I have personal experience with sending pistols to Chris at Metaloy Industries, I would recommend them without reservation if you would consider shipping.

Metaloy'ed frame/components with Hard Hat treated slide:

[Richard Erichsen]

I have no idea what this means. Why is hard chrome not an option? Its not the same as the finishes you reference.

I have personal experience with sending pistols to Chris at Metaloy Industries, I would recommend them without reservation if you would consider shipping.

Metaloy'ed frame/components with Hard Hat treated slide:

I may have misunderstood what the objective of the OP was - decorative, or more decorative than hard wearing was my assumption. Hard chroming isn't that common compared to other methods.

What exactly is "Hard Hat" treatment? The slide looks nitrocarburized.

R

[Gunsmith Dan]

Yea doing hard chrome more expensive than nickel plate and fewer shops doing it now than before because of new rules in the last few years in regards to hexvalent chrome being super "bad" per the EPA and CAL/EPA.

I am doing Electroless Cobalt because it has alot of the same properties as hard chrome does, not as regulated and actually cheaper to do.

[Richard Erichsen]

Yea doing hard chrome more expensive than nickel plate and fewer shops doing it now than before because of new rules in the last few years in regards to hexvalent chrome being super "bad" per the EPA and CAL/EPA.

I am doing Electroless Cobalt because it has alot of the same properties as hard chrome does, not as regulated and actually cheaper to do.

I'd like to hear about that. Electroless cobalt sounds interesting. Would you do that on the frame, the slide or both?

R

[CamW]

Check with Dave's Metal Works in Covina,626-859-0299.
He offers hard chrome, bluing and Cerakote. Excellent gunsmith and a great guy to do business with.

[phil conrad]

Thanks everyone

[Gunsmith Dan]

Electroless Cobalt is a "eviro friendly" type of faux Chrome used under different names by many companies. (Caswell Plating for instance calls it Krome).

Basically Cobalt is not porous like Chrome is so there is no need for under coats of plated metals like nickel and copper. Cobalt is almost the same hardness and shine as Chrome except the finish has a slight blue tint when looked at a angle. The 2 reasons the cost is lower is:

1) it is not regulated like other metals are so the equipment needed is less expensive.

2) It plates like nickel does so no need for extra platings of other metals which once again reduces costs.

Cobalt can be plated to any surface Nickel can plate to and in many cases the chemicals used are identical, just the base metal is changed.

[Richard Erichsen]

Electroless Cobalt is a "eviro friendly" type of faux Chrome used under different names by many companies. (Caswell Plating for instance calls it Krome).

Basically Cobalt is not porous like Chrome is so there is no need for under coats of plated metals like nickel and copper. Cobalt is almost the same hardness and shine as Chrome except the finish has a slight blue tint when looked at a angle. The 2 reasons the cost is lower is:

1) it is not regulated like other metals are so the equipment needed is less expensive.

2) It plates like nickel does so no need for extra platings of other metals which once again reduces costs.

Cobalt can be plated to any surface Nickel can plate to and in many cases the chemicals used are identical, just the base metal is changed.

Well I learned something today - very interesting.

What sort of tank time and cost are we talking about for a piece that has already been stripped and cleaned by the customer? Let's say a 1911 frame and slide? Ballpark, I'm not asking for an accurate quote.

R

[Gunsmith Dan]

Depends on the finish needed by the customer.

You can go from matte finish (320 grit), glass bead blasted (175/375 mesh), polished (400 to 500 grit) and mirror polish.

Basically the more it shines the more it costs, like nickel the majority of the cost is labor machining time.

For a 1911 I would charge for a matte finish approx $225 and for a mirror polish approx $355.00. Others might charge more or less but on plated finishes I warranty them for 3 years against defects and rust on the plated parts. I do not do "tank time" on pre finished parts because of the warranty I offer and being a perfectionist I want everything to come out consistantly finished.

The downside to Cobalt plating is it is not self lubricating like Nickel is, so even though Nickel plate is not as hard the self lubricating makes it last longer.

Right now I am in a holding pattern on metal finishing because of a screw up with the local Air Resources Board/ Cal EPA and looks like I will not get it resolved before mid August.