De-Nickeling?

Zamo · 12-03-2007, 10:33 PM

Once a Luger has been nickel plated, can it effectively be "de-nickled" and re-blued into a nice looking shooter (assuming it was nice looking in the nickled state, ie: Proofs and stampings)? Or is nickle plating some sort of metalurgical electro-imbueing process that can't effectively be reversed?
My whole thought is for a decent looking (that is non-shiney silver) shooter. I keep running across guys with nickle platted, but otherwise very nice Lugers, and was wondering if it'd be worth "saving" them. What would be too much to pay for a nickle luger with this in mind?
I figure you'd have to get the pistol for pretty cheap to make it cost effective versus just buying a re-blued shooter to start with, but it makes for an interesting topic of consideration.

pipeman45 · 12-03-2007, 10:44 PM

Any place that can nickel plate should be able to de- plate.
Cost as always is the problem. If it is a nice one,and you can get the Luger for say around $500.And If it was just plated, NOT buffed half to death. It should be worth it.

Edward Tinker · 12-03-2007, 11:05 PM

I was reading on-line and it said that the problem isn't the nickle / denickling, but the copper that has to be applied for the nickle to stick. Evidently the only way to get the copper off is to buff it off.

At least that is what I read

Ed

Roguetek · 12-04-2007, 04:39 PM

depends on the nickling process. Some of the new nickle plates are direct to steel, no copper involved.

12-03-2007, 10:33 PM	#1
Zamo User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Washington State Posts: 142 Thanks: 4 Thanked 13 Times in 9 Posts	De-Nickeling? Once a Luger has been nickel plated, can it effectively be "de-nickled" and re-blued into a nice looking shooter (assuming it was nice looking in the nickled state, ie: Proofs and stampings)? Or is nickle plating some sort of metalurgical electro-imbueing process that can't effectively be reversed? My whole thought is for a decent looking (that is non-shiney silver) shooter. I keep running across guys with nickle platted, but otherwise very nice Lugers, and was wondering if it'd be worth "saving" them. What would be too much to pay for a nickle luger with this in mind? I figure you'd have to get the pistol for pretty cheap to make it cost effective versus just buying a re-blued shooter to start with, but it makes for an interesting topic of consideration.

12-03-2007, 10:44 PM	#2
pipeman45 User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kentucky Posts: 539 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Any place that can nickel plate should be able to de- plate. Cost as always is the problem. If it is a nice one,and you can get the Luger for say around $500.And If it was just plated, NOT buffed half to death. It should be worth it. __________________ Dave

12-03-2007, 11:05 PM	#3
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,927 Thanks: 2,026 Thanked 4,523 Times in 2,089 Posts	I was reading on-line and it said that the problem isn't the nickle / denickling, but the copper that has to be applied for the nickle to stick. Evidently the only way to get the copper off is to buff it off. At least that is what I read Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

12-04-2007, 04:39 PM	#4
Roguetek User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 18 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	depends on the nickling process. Some of the new nickle plates are direct to steel, no copper involved.