Nickel Boron OR Nickel Teflon??? (Pistol Slide)

briang2ad · May 9, 2018, 08:40 PM

I have two black P07s and want to make one 'different', I WAS going to have the slide Cerakoted Tngsten Gray, but decided CK is not durable enough for me - lets not debate this.

I was looking at TIN and other similar coatings, but because of limited color options, and the fact that silver and silver grey are what I was looking for, I was set on Nickel Boron like CP II. It is hard, good lubricity and economical.

Then I stumbled on a Nickel Teflon (this is NP3 right?) video and it seems VERY good, AND it is more of the grey I was looking for. But for a slide, is it as durable as nickel Boron?

Anyone own both and can compare? I think durability is most important to me then color. If it is a wash on durability, maybe Nickel Teflon wins. BUT, if I need NP3+, for example to be as tough as NiBo, I'll pass - too much more expensive.

Let me know your experience - thanks.

Bill DeShivs · May 9, 2018, 09:09 PM

Industrial hard chrome is much harder and more durable than either.

mete · May 9, 2018, 10:19 PM

If the hard chrome is applied properly it's the way to go. Most of my experience with hard chrome is in industry where applications are rougher than gun applications. Hard chrome has been used much longer than other chrome types.

Sharkbite · May 10, 2018, 10:08 AM

I had the frame of a 1911 done by Robar in NP3. Its held up through hard use and carry for more then a decade.

Does it show wear...yep. Those are character marks!!!!

RickB · May 10, 2018, 11:00 AM

I had a frame done in Accurate Plating and Weaponry's "battleship gray" hard chrome, and it is more gray than silver in appearance.
The chrome I had done by Metalloy is a very "white", bright silver.

Bill DeShivs · May 10, 2018, 12:25 PM

Chrome-or any plating does not change the surface texture of the metal it's applied to.
Sandblasted will look darker than bead blasted, satin darker than polished. Plating, itself, does not make things shiny. Polishing the surface does.

T. O'Heir · May 10, 2018, 12:38 PM

"...more gray than silver in appearance..." Hard chrome is usually a bluish green that polishes itself to sliver in appearance. However, if you polish the blue-green it's sliver too. Isn't exactly the best thing for a firearm. Especially if you shoot outside in sunshine.

Bill DeShivs · May 10, 2018, 03:19 PM

Wrong again, my Canadian friend. ANY chrome plating is basically whitish-silver.
If the underlying metal is bright polished, the item will look like a car bumper.
If it is bead blasted, it will look like silver paint.
The difference between industrial hard chrome and decorative chrome plating is the method of deposition. IHC is plated directly on the substrate in a much thicker layer than decorative chrome.

briang2ad · May 10, 2018, 07:03 PM

I've decided to go CP II. CCR refinishing. Thanks!

May 9, 2018, 08:40 PM	#1
briang2ad Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2004 Posts: 859	Nickel Boron OR Nickel Teflon??? (Pistol Slide) I have two black P07s and want to make one 'different', I WAS going to have the slide Cerakoted Tngsten Gray, but decided CK is not durable enough for me - lets not debate this. I was looking at TIN and other similar coatings, but because of limited color options, and the fact that silver and silver grey are what I was looking for, I was set on Nickel Boron like CP II. It is hard, good lubricity and economical. Then I stumbled on a Nickel Teflon (this is NP3 right?) video and it seems VERY good, AND it is more of the grey I was looking for. But for a slide, is it as durable as nickel Boron? Anyone own both and can compare? I think durability is most important to me then color. If it is a wash on durability, maybe Nickel Teflon wins. BUT, if I need NP3+, for example to be as tough as NiBo, I'll pass - too much more expensive. Let me know your experience - thanks.

May 9, 2018, 09:09 PM	#2
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,984	Industrial hard chrome is much harder and more durable than either. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

May 9, 2018, 10:19 PM	#3
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	If the hard chrome is applied properly it's the way to go. Most of my experience with hard chrome is in industry where applications are rougher than gun applications. Hard chrome has been used much longer than other chrome types. __________________ And Watson , bring your revolver !

May 10, 2018, 11:00 AM	#5
RickB Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2000 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 8,518	I had a frame done in Accurate Plating and Weaponry's "battleship gray" hard chrome, and it is more gray than silver in appearance. The chrome I had done by Metalloy is a very "white", bright silver. __________________ Runs off at the mouth about anything 1911 related on this site and half the time is flat out wrong.

May 10, 2018, 12:25 PM	#6
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,984	Chrome-or any plating does not change the surface texture of the metal it's applied to. Sandblasted will look darker than bead blasted, satin darker than polished. Plating, itself, does not make things shiny. Polishing the surface does. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

May 10, 2018, 10:08 AM	#4
Sharkbite Senior Member Join Date: November 4, 2013 Location: Western slope of Colorado Posts: 3,679	I had the frame of a 1911 done by Robar in NP3. Its held up through hard use and carry for more then a decade. Does it show wear...yep. Those are character marks!!!!

May 10, 2018, 12:38 PM	#7
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...more gray than silver in appearance..." Hard chrome is usually a bluish green that polishes itself to sliver in appearance. However, if you polish the blue-green it's sliver too. Isn't exactly the best thing for a firearm. Especially if you shoot outside in sunshine. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

May 10, 2018, 03:19 PM	#8
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,984	Wrong again, my Canadian friend. ANY chrome plating is basically whitish-silver. If the underlying metal is bright polished, the item will look like a car bumper. If it is bead blasted, it will look like silver paint. The difference between industrial hard chrome and decorative chrome plating is the method of deposition. IHC is plated directly on the substrate in a much thicker layer than decorative chrome. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

May 10, 2018, 07:03 PM	#9
briang2ad Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2004 Posts: 859	I've decided to go CP II. CCR refinishing. Thanks!