Chrome vs Nickel finish

[hillst1]

What is the difference between chrome and nickle finishes and how do they compare in corrosion resistance?

 

[browningguy]

Hard Chrome is what you put over a nickle finish to give it good wear resistnce, at least I think they still put nickle under chrome. I think nickle looks really good, sort of a soft shine if you know what I mean, but it definately won't hold up like a hard chrome finish to either corrosion or wear.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

I've been led to believe that while hard chrome MIGHT be a little more durable than nickel, the principal differences between chrome and nickel is the color.

Whether its glossy or dull, etc., has to do with how the metal is prepared or polished before the finish is applied.

(That's oversimplification, but from a practical perspective, they're both pretty good.)

Both finishes are frequently applied over a copper base, as neither really bonds well with carbon steel or other alloys; sometimes nickel is also an underlayer for the hard chrome. (There are some refinishers that seem to have done plating without the underlayers...)

 

[alamo]

Here's the long answer:

http://www.gunsmith.fuselier.com/platingthoughts.html

http://www.gunsmith.fuselier.com/

 

[f4t9r]

Chrome over nickle
would be the better finish

Update: the link posted above covers it , I should have read it first

 

[EddieCoyle]

"Triple Chrome" = Chrome over nickel over copper

 

[HSMITH]

Hard Chrome is vastly more durable than Nickel. Nickel is more corrosion resistant, though Hard Chrome guns exhibit excellent corrosion resistance.

Big hard chrome fan, don't care for or use nickel.

 

[shaggycat]

How does stainless compare?

 

[Shipwreck]

"Triple Chrome" = Chrome over nickel over copper

No, stainless, then tennifer, then nickel over that, then hard chrome over that, then NP3, then a vacuum sealed plastic bag, and then duracoat the plastic bag

 

[HSMITH]

Stainless doesn't compare. Stainless used in guns is typically a 416 or very close alloy. Corrosion resistance is mildly better than a blue gun, wear resistance about the same as a blue gun.

Stainless guns aren't stainless like most people think of, most stainless steels in everyday life are much more corrosion resistant and wear resistant than gun alloys.