You can chrome plate plastic

kcub · April 2, 2013, 06:20 PM

Per modern marvels the automobile industry has done it for years for parts like molding, emblems,grills etc.

So how long before they de-fugly a glock or ruger revolver frame?

dayman · April 2, 2013, 06:26 PM

You really think a chroming a glock would improve it's looks?
I would disagree.

Nanuk · April 2, 2013, 06:27 PM

Shiny guns are for pimps.

Cheapshooter · April 2, 2013, 06:30 PM

A chrome plated Glock

Don't know how that would be considered "de-fugly" of anything!
I guess it could be even worse, wonder If I can get the frame of my Hi-Point C9 chromed

gandog56 · April 2, 2013, 08:07 PM

Quote:

You really think a chroming a glock would improve it's looks?
I would disagree.

Reminds me when Classic Arms was selling chromed AK47's.....boy them things were FUGLY!

Crankgrinder · April 2, 2013, 08:28 PM

yes the auto industry has done it for years, and its been bubbling up and peeling off in the sun for just as long. chrome plated plastic aint worth a !@#$

Redhawk5.5+P+ · April 2, 2013, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Reminds me when Classic Arms was selling chromed AK47's.....boy them things were FUGLY!

I didn't like them either. By the way they used to chrome guns in batch's at CA. I love my chromed CZ52 they did, although they ripped my off on charging me, long story, and they are owned by someone else now. But I'll take part of the blame on that one.

swcc22 · April 2, 2013, 10:06 PM

Shiny guns get you shot

Bill DeShivs · April 2, 2013, 11:35 PM

"Shiny guns get you shot."

...only if you're a ninja.

Redhawk5.5+P+ · April 2, 2013, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Shiny guns get you shot

OK?

Wreck-n-Crew · April 3, 2013, 12:50 AM

Quote:

You really think a chroming a glock would improve it's looks?
I would disagree.

lmao...litterally woke the kids

Quote:

Per modern marvels the automobile industry has done it for years for parts like molding, emblems,grills etc.

just bedazzle it for crying out loud!

that way when it pops off like chrome off those plastic grills you can just pop on another plastic ruby and keep rolling.

Then imagine how you would find someone to re-chrome your plastic gun!
Bedazzle and be-done i say!

Gaerek · April 3, 2013, 01:00 AM

It'll give new meaning to Tommy Lee Jones quote in US Marshalls...

"Get yourself a Glock and lose that nickel plated sissy pistol."

mete · April 3, 2013, 04:15 AM

You can electroplate chromium on something like steel but on plastic you would use vapor deposition.

RoosterBooster3632 · April 3, 2013, 04:32 AM

I work in the plastics industry. There are some grades of plastic that are electroplatable but the majority are not. I'm not aware of any polymer gun components that are molded in the platable grades of plastic. Most gun components are molded in nylon based polymers. PVD or physical vapor disposition is another means to plate plastics but there are limited materials for that process as well. There are more materials that can have a vacuum metalize process on them. Most people don't realize that there are currrently over 80,000 commercially available grades of plastic.

Bill DeShivs · April 3, 2013, 01:15 PM

Here's how it's done:
The plastic is painted with a paint containing conductive metal (silver or copper.) then the conductive paint is plated with a copper underplate. At this point, the plastic can be plated with the metal of your choice.
It's like bronzing baby shoes.

kcub · April 3, 2013, 06:18 PM

The process descibed in the show was acid first, then nickel, then chrome.

Nickel Plated · April 3, 2013, 06:22 PM

It's an airsoft replica but there you go.

I like shiny guns and all, but chromed plastic...on a Glock? No thanks.

Wreck-n-Crew · April 3, 2013, 08:10 PM

Oh my eyes, my eyes, put that thing way your gonna burn out a retina!

And to think i thought i owned the ugliest gun!

Scorch · April 3, 2013, 08:12 PM

Quote:

So how long before they de-fugly a glock or ruger revolver frame?

Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clear through.

Ferretboy · April 3, 2013, 08:13 PM

Just because you can, doesnt mean you should.....

shouldazagged · April 3, 2013, 08:22 PM

I like my guns blue. My concealed carry piece is a polished stainless J-frame, but the key word is "concealed".

Chrome plating one of the little polymer revolvers is a kind of disturbing thought.

**Frank Ettin** · April 3, 2013, 08:56 PM

There are two types of chrome plating.

Decorative chrome plating is for looks and can be done on a variety of materials. It generally involves applying a layer of nickel first. It generally won't stand up to a lot of heavy wear.

Chrome plating for durability under hard wear conditions and for corrosion resistance is called hard chrome or industrial chrome plating. I doubt that plastics can be hard chrome plated.

jmohme · April 3, 2013, 09:34 PM

Vacuum metalizing is probably the best method of plating plastic.
This is usually done with aluminum, not chrome. The aluminum is then polished and clear coated for a chrome like finish.

chadio · April 3, 2013, 10:22 PM

Cu- Posit

Palladium catalyst

.... don't know about plastic. (ahem, excuse me, polymer

)

Redhawk5.5+P+ · April 4, 2013, 06:33 AM

I'll just say it, "you can't chrome plastic".

April 2, 2013, 06:20 PM	#1
kcub Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2010 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 3,318	You can chrome plate plastic Per modern marvels the automobile industry has done it for years for parts like molding, emblems,grills etc. So how long before they de-fugly a glock or ruger revolver frame?

April 2, 2013, 06:26 PM	#2
dayman Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2011 Location: The Woods Posts: 1,197	You really think a chroming a glock would improve it's looks? I would disagree. __________________ si vis pacem para bellum

April 2, 2013, 06:27 PM	#3
Nanuk Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2005 Location: Where the deer and the antelope roam. Posts: 3,082	Shiny guns are for pimps. __________________ Retired Law Enforcement U. S. Army Veteran Armorer My rifle and pistol are tools, I am the weapon.

April 2, 2013, 06:30 PM	#4
Cheapshooter Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 8,306	A chrome plated Glock Don't know how that would be considered "de-fugly" of anything! I guess it could be even worse, wonder If I can get the frame of my Hi-Point C9 chromed __________________ Cheapshooter's rules of gun ownership #1: NEVER SELL OR TRADE ANYTHING!

April 2, 2013, 10:06 PM	#8
swcc22 Member Join Date: March 2, 2013 Location: allen tx Posts: 64	Re: You can chrome plate plastic Shiny guns get you shot

April 2, 2013, 08:28 PM	#6
Crankgrinder Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 917	yes the auto industry has done it for years, and its been bubbling up and peeling off in the sun for just as long. chrome plated plastic aint worth a !@#$

April 2, 2013, 11:35 PM	#9
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,978	"Shiny guns get you shot." ...only if you're a ninja. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

April 3, 2013, 01:00 AM	#12
Gaerek Senior Member Join Date: October 3, 2012 Location: Arizona Posts: 939	It'll give new meaning to Tommy Lee Jones quote in US Marshalls... "Get yourself a Glock and lose that nickel plated sissy pistol."

April 3, 2013, 04:15 AM	#13
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	You can electroplate chromium on something like steel but on plastic you would use vapor deposition. __________________ And Watson , bring your revolver !

April 3, 2013, 04:32 AM	#14
RoosterBooster3632 Member Join Date: December 2, 2012 Location: NE WI Posts: 32	Plating Plastic I work in the plastics industry. There are some grades of plastic that are electroplatable but the majority are not. I'm not aware of any polymer gun components that are molded in the platable grades of plastic. Most gun components are molded in nylon based polymers. PVD or physical vapor disposition is another means to plate plastics but there are limited materials for that process as well. There are more materials that can have a vacuum metalize process on them. Most people don't realize that there are currrently over 80,000 commercially available grades of plastic.

April 3, 2013, 01:15 PM	#15
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,978	Here's how it's done: The plastic is painted with a paint containing conductive metal (silver or copper.) then the conductive paint is plated with a copper underplate. At this point, the plastic can be plated with the metal of your choice. It's like bronzing baby shoes. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

April 3, 2013, 06:18 PM	#16
kcub Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2010 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 3,318	The process descibed in the show was acid first, then nickel, then chrome.

April 3, 2013, 06:22 PM	#17
Nickel Plated Senior Member Join Date: January 17, 2010 Location: Brooklyn, NYC Posts: 610	It's an airsoft replica but there you go. I like shiny guns and all, but chromed plastic...on a Glock? No thanks.

April 3, 2013, 08:10 PM	#18
Wreck-n-Crew Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2013 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,820	Oh my eyes, my eyes, put that thing way your gonna burn out a retina! And to think i thought i owned the ugliest gun! __________________ If you ever have to use a firearm, *you don't get to pick the scenario!*

April 3, 2013, 08:13 PM	#20
Ferretboy Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2012 Location: Longview, WA Posts: 214	Just because you can, doesnt mean you should..... __________________ There is no such thing as Overkill, Dead is Dead!

April 3, 2013, 08:22 PM	#21
shouldazagged Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2013 Location: Louisville, KY, USA Posts: 273	I like my guns blue. My concealed carry piece is a polished stainless J-frame, but the key word is "concealed". Chrome plating one of the little polymer revolvers is a kind of disturbing thought. __________________ "Don't let macho be your epitaph." ---Ed Lovette

April 3, 2013, 08:56 PM	#22
Frank Ettin Staff Join Date: November 23, 2005 Location: California - San Francisco Posts: 9,471	There are two types of chrome plating. Decorative chrome plating is for looks and can be done on a variety of materials. It generally involves applying a layer of nickel first. It generally won't stand up to a lot of heavy wear. Chrome plating for durability under hard wear conditions and for corrosion resistance is called hard chrome or industrial chrome plating. I doubt that plastics can be hard chrome plated. __________________ "It is long been a principle of ours that one is no more armed because he has possession of a firearm than he is a musician because he owns a piano. There is no point in having a gun if you are not capable of using it skillfully." -- Jeff Cooper

April 3, 2013, 09:34 PM	#23
jmohme Member Join Date: January 14, 2012 Location: Bastrop Texas Posts: 77	Vacuum metalizing is probably the best method of plating plastic. This is usually done with aluminum, not chrome. The aluminum is then polished and clear coated for a chrome like finish.

April 3, 2013, 10:22 PM	#24
chadio Senior Member Join Date: June 29, 2011 Posts: 931	Works on fiberglass: Cu- Posit Palladium catalyst .... don't know about plastic. (ahem, excuse me, polymer ) __________________ Ex - Navy, Persian Gulf Veteran. Loved shooting the M14, 1911, M60, M2

April 4, 2013, 06:33 AM	#25
Redhawk5.5+P+ Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2012 Location: NV Posts: 743	I'll just say it, "you can't chrome plastic".

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