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Hydrogen embrittlement of handguns from chrome plating

Q. I want factual info. on hydrogen embrittlement that ocurrs during the hard chrome plating of handguns. How critical is this? Is it only critical if repeated stripping and replating?

Thanks

Chris Peters
Plating shop - Berryville, Arkansas, USA
2004

A. To get factual information on hydrogen embrittlement from chrome plating, you need to provide the exact alloy and hardness condition of every single part that you intend to plate. Plating shops that I have been associated with absolutely refused to work on guns and auto rims because the liability was massively too high. Lord only knows what a gun was subjected to before or after plate, but let it fail and you can bet your last dollar that some lawyer will find some expert witness to swear that it was because of your plating. Try to find an ops sheet that shows exact times in each tank and the actual bake chart 10 or 30 years later. Crudely and unfortunately, there ain't no statute of limitations.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
2004

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