Making Black Aluminum Silver?

[JCooperfan1911]

Considering having the black frame of an alloy (aluminum alloy) Colt .45 Lightweight Commander made to appear “silver” somehow.

Is this technologically possible? Is there some plating or method than can be used for the task? I’d like the look to mimic a 2-tone gun and would be leaving the slide blued (it is carbon steel). Any shops perform this type of wizardry?

Thanks crafty gun bugs.

 

[trackskippy]

Try here....

http://mahovskysmetalife.com/

 

[LoonWulf]

If the frame is anodized, and most aluminum is, you can chemical strip or media blast the finish off. It would then need to be re-anodized and left undyed.
I did my buckmark frame then duracoted it FDE and it works fine, but any time your removing a factory finish as thick as ano, the reapplying something, you can have tolerance issues, so id have a reputable shop do the work.
Id also have type 3 ano done which will leave the frame gray as opposed to bright silver. If you DO want bright silver type 2s your huckleberry.

 

[Jim Watson]

A coworker just stripped the anodizing with Drano (major ingredient sodium hydroxide) and left it naked aluminum. Stylish and he didn't shoot it much so the lack of a hardened surface probably didn't matter.

 

[LoonWulf]

A coworker just stripped the anodizing with Drano (major ingredient sodium hydroxide) and left it naked aluminum. Stylish and he didn't shoot it much so the lack of a hardened surface probably didn't matter.

If going with chemical stripper you can buy straight sodium hydroxide for most hobby and hardware stores. I get it from Ace to make bluing solution.
I would at the very least suggest clear coating raw aluminum it oxidizes pretty quickly.

 

[Alaskan Ironworker]

Especially if you’re in Hawaii.

 

[BBBBill]

Try here....

http://mahovskysmetalife.com/

^^^^^^^^^^^^ This Hard chrome over nickel over aluminum. You get the color, hardness, corrosion protection, and durability.

 

[shoobe01]

Depends on the color you want. My favorite is still NP3. GREAT finish in many ways, not straight "silver" finish but I prefer it.

A bunch of other plating available. I am sure more people will post links, but just search the internet or ask local shops and smiths for gun finishing services.

Anyway, clear anodizing also exists. That will look most like "just aluminum" but is a finish so is protective and adds the strength back that you just removed by stripping the black anodizing off.

I wouldn't do bare aluminum unless I knew a lot more about the specific metallurgy etc. Aluminum in high stress areas can need the surface treatment for strength (I've been told) and so just stripping the finish off is not recommended by many I've talked to; even for bigger items like AR-15 receivers, I've seen warnings not to sandblast bare then paint as it needs the anodizing for strength.

 

[bannockburn]

I second the motion of using Ron Mahovsky of Metalife to do the work. They do a fantastic job with their finishes fnd they're still very reasonably priced.

 

[BBBBill]

The only negative about Mahovsky is their communications. Sometimes difficult to get an answer. Ther workmanship has always been great.

 

[Armorer 101]

Remington factory bottom metal is aluminum, when I do a hard chrome, satin finish 700, I just send the finished receiver and bottom metal to Bob Coogan at Accurate Plating and he does a great chrome plating job, plus he builds custom guns and his work on guns is pretty special. I have owned several of his guns, including a hinged trigger 1911 comp gun as pictured.
https://apwcogan.com/