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Brush Plating Consistency for Antique Firearms?

I am attempting to restore several antique firearms. Some of these were silver plated. I have used electroless nickel in the past with good results. I have heard about brush plating but have no experience with it. My questions are, is brush plating as durable as electroless or electro plating? Secondly what thickness can I expect (I am looking for about .0004). Is the plating consistent in thickness. Lastly is it appropriate to ask for a recommendation on a reputable company to buy from. Thank You

Thomas Lumb
Gunsmith - Stoutland, Missouri, USA
2007

Ed. note: To the last question, the brush plating suppliers who make this site possible are shown in the banner at the bottom of the page; sorry but we do think it inappropriate for us to ask them to pay the cost of posting ads from or testimonials to their competitors who choose not to share those costs.

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First of three simultaneous responses -- 2007

Part of the answer to your question depends on what metal you desire to brush plate.
Some people can do superb brush plate because they listen and follow instructions to the letter and have a manual dexterity that is very good. Brush plate can look OK and be very poor. It can also be very good.
EN can be abused very badly also which can produce poor quality, but is less subject to operator influence than brush plating by an order of magnitude.
The quality of your setup will have a lot to do on each system.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida

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Second of three simultaneous responses -- 2007

1- Brush plating CAN be as durable as tank plating. Depends on many factors like thickness, and care to follow the specifications during plating (takes a good training, experience and dexterity), geometry, etc..
2- You can expect that thickness and indeed much more for some of the more common metals (there are exotic metals and alloys that are limited to around that).
3- No. It is done by hand except for a few high volume applications (surely not firearms).
4- Already noted by Editor.

Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico

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Third of three simultaneous responses -- 2007

I don't know how the antique market works in US but in Europe re-plating an antique gun reduces the value dramatically.
I would think carefully before proceeding.

Geoff Smith
Hampshire, England