Overland Plating

Frequently Asked Questions

1) What is the difference between plating, blueing, and Parkerizing?

They are completely different. Firearm finishes can be divided into two types: APPLIED and PLATED. Applied finishes are blue, parkerizeng, duracoat, etc. These are either sprayed on or dipped in and although may offer rust and corrosion resistance can be scratched and rubbed off. Plated finishes, of any type, bond the plating metal on the base metal by electricity and chemicals or by heat and chemical methods. Since the plating is bonded to the base on a molecular level it will offer more corrosion and resistance.

2) What is the difference between chrome, hard chrome and nickel?

Again there are huge differences between chrome and nickel. There are two basic types of chrome, triple and hard chrome. Decorative and triple chrome is the kind of chrome done to bumpers; wheels and other items looking to get that show finish. Hard chrome is similar except for the final chrome plate, To do chrome plating the part is first plated with copper, then plated with nickel. This is done because chrome offers no corrosion or rust protection, as it is porous so the nickel gives the protection. Finally the chrome is applied. Hard chrome is done the same way except the chemicals in the chrome are different. Hard chrome is usually done on machine tools, shafts and other parts that are exposed to high wear. Nickel is done in two ways, electroplating where the part to be plated is put in a chemical solution with the electrolyte and attached to a power source, then a nickel anode is connected to the positive side and by electrical current nickel is taken from the anode and bonded to the part being plated. The other method is Electroless plating, where no electricity is used. The part is immersed in a chemical solution and heated to a very precise temperature for a specific length of time. Because electricity always wants to take the path of least resistance, the flat surfaces receive more plate than the edges. Electroless plating gives a more even plating surface.

3) My gun is heavily pitted. Will the plating cover up the pits?

The plating surface is 1 mill thick in most cases and that alone will not cover any imperfections in the surface. The only way to remove pits, scratches or other flaws is to either polish them down or to build up the surface with copper plating then polish the high spots.

4) How hard is the plated finish?

With the exception of 24k Gold and Copper plate all of the white (Chrome, Nickel and Cobalt) plated finishes we use at Overland are in the 58-64 on the Rockwell C scale. This is harder then triple chrome and in the same area as hard chrome.

5) Why should I get my gun plated?

There are several reasons to get a firearm plated. First, all the finishes we offer are resistant to corrosion and rusting. Second, the plated surface is harder then the base metal, the surface hardness of a AK stamped receiver is under 40 on the C scale. Third is appearance. A Nickel, chrome or gold plated firearm is a thing of beauty that will last several lifetimes.

6) Can you plate aluminum?

At the present time we plate all types of steels and aluminum, such as AR-15 receivers and aluminum handgun frames.

7) My current pistol is plated and I don’t know if it is nickel or chrome. To get it refinished does the old finish have to be removed?

If a part is chrome plated no other type of plating can be done over it. It is our policy to remove all of the old finish prior to refinishing. This is due to several reasons; number one is to start with a base we know will be sound. Second, that is the only way to examine the bare metal and obtain a first class job.

8) Are the prices listed in the price list what it is going to cost? What are some of the extras that could be charged?

The prices are the cost to plate a item. Included are stripping of the old finish( blue or other applied), buffing using three levels of polishing; 140 grit, 320 grit and 400 grit, then plating and last is a white color buffing to remove any blemishes on the surface and obtain a smooth surface. If the part is plated with nickel or chrome then the old plate has to be removed it must be be electro stripped by reverse plating which costs both extra money and extra man hours. Certain new handguns are leaving the factory with little or no polishing or flaw removal and given a heavy coating of either paint or black oxide and when this heavy coating is removed, exposing the bare metal exposing the rough surface for the first time extra time has to be done to prepare these type of guns. Some examples are the Dessert Eagles and the other are Beretta pistols, this process is cost-effective for them but difficult for the refinisher.

9) Is the finish guaranteed?

All plating jobs, with the exception of 24k Gold and Black Chrome, are guaranteed for one year from peeling and flaking.

10) What if I want a two-tone color of plating; such as a matte nickel frame, a gloss slide and gold controls?

We are one of the few, if not the only place that will give the customer the option of multi color options with no extra cost. The only exception is 24k gold; we use real 24k gold anodes in the plating tanks and gold is getting very expensive, it is at a 25 year high and our anodes deplete very fast because to get the deep gold tone the part is given a heavy coating of gold plate is required.

11) What is Hydrogen Embrittlement?

Briefly that is the trapping of Hydrogen under the Chrome plating, causing the steel to break under heat. For more info see http://www.moldmakingtechnology.com/articles/040208.html