new to me Luger-it needs help!!

sheepherder · 04-04-2009, 10:55 AM

I'm no expert, but you didn't say whether it was hard (industrial) chrome or decorative chrome. Dec chrome is a 3-step process (copper, nickle, chromium) whereas hard chrome is chromium only (different alloy from dec chromium).

I've had dec chrome removed by a professional plater; the three metals take different acidic solutions to remove the different metals. Hard chrome can be a real bitch to remove, without damaging/removing the parent metal.

Don't ask me how I know.

sovblocgunfan · 04-04-2009, 11:29 AM

Dealing w/ decorative chrome here, not hard chrome.

I also think the decorative chrome was not applied well to begin with. Where it has flaked away no copper or nickel is visible, and I see remnants of bluing. New areas are peeling away in small amounts with little effort.

I may be hardheaded but I will be attempting the dechrome myself. Risk is low, potential for success is good and I have a solution for the waste.

sheepherder · 04-04-2009, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sovblocgunfan

Dealing w/ decorative chrome...I will be attempting the dechrome myself...

It may be total BS, but I've read that immersing the part/soaking for a week in Coca-Cola will remove chrome and/or rust...

I'm looking at various sites that recommend ways to remove the chrome...Sounds like it can be done at home...or more properly, in a well ventilated garage...outside...with goggles, respirator, and rubber gloves...

I do Parkerizing in my kitchen, but I don't recommend it...but then, I'm a bachelor, and my stove is a tool, not an appliance...

sovblocgunfan · 04-04-2009, 12:30 PM

Did you see the Mythbusters thing too?

I know whatcha mean! All my work is being done outside, due to complaints from family members. Yes, the dechrome is going to be a little nastier than the derust, but like I said, I have a plan for it.

I also have a parkerizing project coming up soon-an 18.25" riot barrel to match my shotgun.

Anyway, film at 11...

sovblocgunfan · 04-04-2009, 06:23 PM

More pics posted in the album: http://forum.lugerforum.com/album.php?u=6789

It's basically the electrolysis tank (simple set up, really) and the mag body. I can post a photo of the frame if you wish, but for the post part it's now as clean as the mag-it just still has the chrome on it!

Anyway, will keep posted as to progress.

Justin

sovblocgunfan · 04-05-2009, 08:30 PM

Update:

Based on a trial run with the dechrome process (using an old car part I had lying around) I have decided to take all parts to the chrome platers and have them strip the parts to bare metal. My results were less than satisfactory, and created a significant mess to clean up on the part. The car part still retained chrome and I had too much difficulty with the electricity-too much current, hard to control correctly, etc. It also took way to long to get the poor results that it yielded. I tried it, didn't care for it, but am willing to try it again if another opportunity presents itself.

So, I am going to take a little time to get the replacement springs on order and pick out which bluing I want to use-I am just about convinced that bluing is the way to go on this gun, but am still worried about corrosion under the chrome. Perhaps I can live with it if it's not too deep by putting an emery cloth or emery paper on it to smooth it out if needed.

sovblocgunfan · 04-17-2009, 02:33 PM

I can't seem to get good photos of what the inside of this pistol is supposed to look like. Everything I can find has nice, pretty photos of the exterior of the pistol-very little shows individual or semi-hidden parts and I can't get a good fix on how this thing is really supposed to look. I know I can't make it perfect, but I want it respectable, so I want it reasonably close to original-looking. I have questions:

I can see from several photos what parts are supposed to be strawed. Not a problem.

Is the entire frame (inside the barrel channel and out) supposed to be blued? Or am I looking at bluing the outside and leaving the inside in the white?

Recoil spring linkage-blue or in-white?

Toggle Section-all blue, including recoil link? All blue inside and out?

Upper frame-blue on inside, or in-white?

Thanks!

Justin

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04-04-2009, 10:55 AM	#1
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,208 Thanks: 1,425 Thanked 4,474 Times in 2,343 Posts	I'm no expert, but you didn't say whether it was hard (industrial) chrome or decorative chrome. Dec chrome is a 3-step process (copper, nickle, chromium) whereas hard chrome is chromium only (different alloy from dec chromium). I've had dec chrome removed by a professional plater; the three metals take different acidic solutions to remove the different metals. Hard chrome can be a real bitch to remove, without damaging/removing the parent metal. Don't ask me how I know.

04-04-2009, 11:29 AM	#2
sovblocgunfan User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 20 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Dealing w/ decorative chrome here, not hard chrome. I also think the decorative chrome was not applied well to begin with. Where it has flaked away no copper or nickel is visible, and I see remnants of bluing. New areas are peeling away in small amounts with little effort. I may be hardheaded but I will be attempting the dechrome myself. Risk is low, potential for success is good and I have a solution for the waste.

04-04-2009, 12:30 PM	#4
sovblocgunfan User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 20 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Did you see the Mythbusters thing too? I know whatcha mean! All my work is being done outside, due to complaints from family members. Yes, the dechrome is going to be a little nastier than the derust, but like I said, I have a plan for it. I also have a parkerizing project coming up soon-an 18.25" riot barrel to match my shotgun. Anyway, film at 11...

04-04-2009, 06:23 PM	#5
sovblocgunfan User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 20 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	More pics posted in the album: http://forum.lugerforum.com/album.php?u=6789 It's basically the electrolysis tank (simple set up, really) and the mag body. I can post a photo of the frame if you wish, but for the post part it's now as clean as the mag-it just still has the chrome on it! Anyway, will keep posted as to progress. Justin

04-05-2009, 08:30 PM	#6
sovblocgunfan User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 20 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Update: Based on a trial run with the dechrome process (using an old car part I had lying around) I have decided to take all parts to the chrome platers and have them strip the parts to bare metal. My results were less than satisfactory, and created a significant mess to clean up on the part. The car part still retained chrome and I had too much difficulty with the electricity-too much current, hard to control correctly, etc. It also took way to long to get the poor results that it yielded. I tried it, didn't care for it, but am willing to try it again if another opportunity presents itself. So, I am going to take a little time to get the replacement springs on order and pick out which bluing I want to use-I am just about convinced that bluing is the way to go on this gun, but am still worried about corrosion under the chrome. Perhaps I can live with it if it's not too deep by putting an emery cloth or emery paper on it to smooth it out if needed.

04-17-2009, 02:33 PM	#7
sovblocgunfan User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 20 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I can't seem to get good photos of what the inside of this pistol is supposed to look like. Everything I can find has nice, pretty photos of the exterior of the pistol-very little shows individual or semi-hidden parts and I can't get a good fix on how this thing is really supposed to look. I know I can't make it perfect, but I want it respectable, so I want it reasonably close to original-looking. I have questions: I can see from several photos what parts are supposed to be strawed. Not a problem. Is the entire frame (inside the barrel channel and out) supposed to be blued? Or am I looking at bluing the outside and leaving the inside in the white? Recoil spring linkage-blue or in-white? Toggle Section-all blue, including recoil link? All blue inside and out? Upper frame-blue on inside, or in-white? Thanks! Justin