Nickel / chrome removal?

[kBob]

Nickel / chrome removal?

Any ideas on the best way to deal with a pistol slide that was nickel or chrome plated (how does one tell the difference?) but left for many years in a home made leather holster?

Front one inch of finish stayed in the holster when the gun was removed. Gun works fine but is UGLY.

Star S model (wide base mag)since you were about to ask. Not sure they were offered in shiny reflective nickel or chrome though apparently that frosted "starvel" finish was offered. Also rounding or filling on some markings makes me suspect a bumper shop was involved, so likely chrome.

-kBob

 

[P5 Guy]

Nickel / Chrome

Hard chrome will have a slight blueish cast.
There are a couple of nickel finishes, bright nickel will have a slight brownish cast, then there is electroless nickel which is more of a matte look.

I worked as an elector-plater from many a year. Hard chrome can be stripped in HCl or hydrochloric acid. Decorative chrome is a triple plating process, usually consisting of copper, nickel and finished with chrome. Polishing between is at times done. That depends on the base metal.
NH3 or ammonia in a strong caustic solution will strip nickel and copper. Not a chemical you'll like get in the local store.
I guess that blasting media will remove the plating too, though I have never done that. The shop I worked would always use chemical processing.
Just how ugly is this piece?

 

[P5 Guy]

http://www.pfonline.com/articles/stripping-of-plated-finishes

Reading material for the home refinisher, you may find helpful.

 

[hartcreek]

NH3 is nitric acid and it is used in concrete work so you may be able to purchase it locally.

 

[119er]

NH3 is ammonia. HNO3 is nitric acid. Both are not much fun to be around.

If the plating already pulled off, blasting may be the trick. I'm not sure how you intend to refinish the slide but maybe powder or bead blasting will work. Aluminum oxide would be good if you want to parkerize it.

Good luck.