Electroplating

apilar · February 6th, 2013, 16:11

So, im in the market for a metal kit for my gun. Found one. Was sold out before i got it!

On the market is the same kit, but in black not silver. I really wanted something shiny!

So i was thinking, what would happen if i took the black gun, got it stripped (sand blasted) and then had it electroplated silver??

Seems like an expensive thing to test, but if it worked it would be pretty awesome!

Anyone out there forsee any problems other than potentially increasing the thickness of the slide and frame. This could be a problem for inserting pins, blowback housing and the rest. But then again, the paint takes up space too. How much MORE could electroplating take up!?

Thoughts on this anyone??

Metalsynth · February 6th, 2013, 16:18

If you just want it shiny why not just sandblast it and buff to a shine the outer shell?

The color under it is already silver.

The down part to having it electroplated is 2 fold

1-the price tag
2-the interior mesurments will become tighter so you may have fitting issues afterwards

So there, that's my toughts.

ThunderCactus · February 6th, 2013, 16:35

Polished pot metal is still just polished crap.
Get it zinc plated!

vondnik · February 6th, 2013, 16:38

I'm honestly not sure the pot metal receiver would survive the plating process

apilar · February 6th, 2013, 16:42

Well pot metal yeah. It may not turn out so good!
I guess polished aluminum would be ok though!

Deadpool · February 6th, 2013, 16:45

I know that anodizing destroys pot metal. It probably wouldn't survive the acid bath it has to go through before plating.

jordan7831 · February 6th, 2013, 16:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThunderCactus

Polished pot metal is still just polished crap.
Get it zinc plated!

I disagree. Ive polished up several pot metal guns with some very good success.

I sold this gun a while back. Took less than an hour to get a nice silver finish.

http://www.airsoftcanada.com/showthread.php?t=139282

ThunderCactus · February 6th, 2013, 17:55

Ehh +1 on the acid killing it.
I did an LCT AK body a long ways back, just powdering black, but you could never get all the impurity out of it, seemed like it would soak up acid too.
Just don't leave it in the acid tanks (parco especially) too long and it should be fine. But you have to bake it to 400 for a while to make sure all the chemicals are out.

ILLusion · February 7th, 2013, 04:43

It really depends on the material you're doing. There are about a thousand different varieties of "pot metal", and the exact elemental composition will depend how badly it will oxidize, if at all. In general, MOST airsoft pot metals will oxidize in to a dull and dark grey, but there are some will not, depending on the levels of lead, zinc, aluminum, and other impurities are present.

If you could point out specifically what kit you're referring to, somebody with more experience may be able to point out the success of what you're trying to attempt.

And for what it's worth, Zinc and lead will almost never hold up to ANY acid bath, so attempting any form of acid bath to a pot metal using such a composition will never survive the process of electro plating.

At most, you'll get a shiny lump of metal that doesn't resemble anything close to a gun.

apilar · February 7th, 2013, 11:07

Lol thanx for the input guys!
I think that at the very least, after hearing what everyone is saying, I will just sand and polish until I get a shine!
I would hate to risk turning my gun into a shiny lump!

Just thot I'd throw the idea out to see if any1 had been able to do it!

ILLusion · February 7th, 2013, 12:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by apilar

Lol thanx for the input guys!
I think that at the very least, after hearing what everyone is saying, I will just sand and polish until I get a shine!
I would hate to risk turning my gun into a shiny lump!

Just thot I'd throw the idea out to see if any1 had been able to do it!

Keep in mind what I just said, about MOST airsoft pot metals having the capacity to oxidize in to a very dull and dark grey. This happens even quicker if you plan on handling the gun with your bare hands, as the oils in your hands can have other effects on some pot metals - especially those with high zinc content (almost all pot metals have some level of zinc content to them for malleability).

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February 6th, 2013, 16:11	#1
apilar Trader rating Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Port Elgin, Ontario --&-- London, Ontario	Electroplating So, im in the market for a metal kit for my gun. Found one. Was sold out before i got it! On the market is the same kit, but in black not silver. I really wanted something shiny! So i was thinking, what would happen if i took the black gun, got it stripped (sand blasted) and then had it electroplated silver?? Seems like an expensive thing to test, but if it worked it would be pretty awesome! Anyone out there forsee any problems other than potentially increasing the thickness of the slide and frame. This could be a problem for inserting pins, blowback housing and the rest. But then again, the paint takes up space too. How much MORE could electroplating take up!? Thoughts on this anyone??

February 6th, 2013, 16:18	#2
Metalsynth Trader rating Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Montreal	If you just want it shiny why not just sandblast it and buff to a shine the outer shell? The color under it is already silver. The down part to having it electroplated is 2 fold 1-the price tag 2-the interior mesurments will become tighter so you may have fitting issues afterwards So there, that's my toughts. __________________ Certified Level 2 BA Sniper Si ton épée est trop courte, allonge la d'un pas. ( Proverbe Hongrois )

February 6th, 2013, 16:38	#4
vondnik Ban-Fu Sifu Trader rating Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Socialist republic of Kebekistan	I'm honestly not sure the pot metal receiver would survive the plating process __________________ Vondnik, team Bad Karma, PQAC Murphy's second rule: Nothing is impossible for the man who does not have to do it himself.

February 6th, 2013, 16:35	#3
ThunderCactus Not Eye Safe, Pretty Boy Maximus on the field take his picture! Trader rating Join Date: Feb 2007	Polished pot metal is still just polished crap. Get it zinc plated!

February 6th, 2013, 16:42	#5
apilar Trader rating Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Port Elgin, Ontario --&-- London, Ontario	Well pot metal yeah. It may not turn out so good! I guess polished aluminum would be ok though!

February 6th, 2013, 17:55	#8
ThunderCactus Not Eye Safe, Pretty Boy Maximus on the field take his picture! Trader rating Join Date: Feb 2007	Ehh +1 on the acid killing it. I did an LCT AK body a long ways back, just powdering black, but you could never get all the impurity out of it, seemed like it would soak up acid too. Just don't leave it in the acid tanks (parco especially) too long and it should be fine. But you have to bake it to 400 for a while to make sure all the chemicals are out.

February 7th, 2013, 04:43	#9
ILLusion GBB Whisperer Trader rating Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Toronto	It really depends on the material you're doing. There are about a thousand different varieties of "pot metal", and the exact elemental composition will depend how badly it will oxidize, if at all. In general, MOST airsoft pot metals will oxidize in to a dull and dark grey, but there are some will not, depending on the levels of lead, zinc, aluminum, and other impurities are present. If you could point out specifically what kit you're referring to, somebody with more experience may be able to point out the success of what you're trying to attempt. And for what it's worth, Zinc and lead will almost never hold up to ANY acid bath, so attempting any form of acid bath to a pot metal using such a composition will never survive the process of electro plating. At most, you'll get a shiny lump of metal that doesn't resemble anything close to a gun. __________________ *Advanced Airsoft Armaments and Enhancements* Quick to the gun, sure of your grip. Quick to the threat, sure of your shot. Diligentia, Vis, Celeritas Accuracy, Power, Speed

February 7th, 2013, 11:07	#10
apilar Trader rating Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Port Elgin, Ontario --&-- London, Ontario	Lol thanx for the input guys! I think that at the very least, after hearing what everyone is saying, I will just sand and polish until I get a shine! I would hate to risk turning my gun into a shiny lump! Just thot I'd throw the idea out to see if any1 had been able to do it!

Electroplating

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