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  for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Removing plating from gun barrel

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Q. I want to remove the plating from a gun barrel. It is either nickel or chrome plated. Please advise what type of acid and what is a recommended voltage. Also, is there any possibility of damaging the steel?

Sincerely,

C.H. Earnheart, P.E.

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It's probably nickel, although it could be nickel followed by chrome. You probably cannot remove this plating at home, but most plating shops can do it easily for you. Yes, there is plenty of possibility of damaging it.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2003

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2003

CH,

If you remove the plating from a barrel, you will change the size of the bore. Make sure this is what you want to do before you try this because it may ruin the gun for shooting.

Good luck,

Ed Kay
- St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Make sure you impress upon the plater you choose to use a non electrolytic nickel strip solution after removing the chrome in hydrochloric acid for a few minutes. The solution should use a cyanide base. This will guarantee no change in internal or external dimensions. It works.

Mark Gunn
- NSW, Australia
2003

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