Why not refinish in Melonite? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

jacob.sebens · 04-10-2007, 04:27 AM

Title says it all. I see lots of people getting their pre-melonite XDs refinished with everything from Duracoat to NP3. Why doesn't anyone get it sent out for melonite treatment?

I'm looking to refinish my XD...what's the best (most durable) option?

chupacabrachus · 04-10-2007, 04:35 AM

It's not an option. Your most durable next best choice is hard chroming or NP3 I think.

SpringfieldXD.40 · 04-10-2007, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chupacabrachus

It's not an option. Your most durable next best choice is hard chroming or NP3 I think.

+1...melonite is (if I am not mistaken, and someone correct me if I am wrong) is a treatment done to the metal as opposed to a "finish". From what I understand, that process is not performed in the US.

jacob.sebens · 04-10-2007, 04:52 AM

Negative. The link below will show you one business that will melonite your slide if you send it to them...there are two others, but I'm on a work computer and can't access my personal files.

http://www.coalcreekarmory.com/finis...632407edb81f1e

Or have I misunderstood something?

SpringfieldXD.40 · 04-10-2007, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacob.sebens

Negative. The link below will show you one business that will melonite your slide if you send it to them...there are two others, but I'm on a work computer and can't access my personal files.

http://www.coalcreekarmory.com/finis...632407edb81f1e

Or have I misunderstood something?

Man I love this site...you learn something new every day...Well, JACOB, after seeing the link, I am not sure why it isn't more common...I am looking foward to reading the responses that will follow...

**Old School** · 04-10-2007, 05:28 AM

I may be off a bit on this, but a melonite finish still requires the used of oil for the benefit of rust protection. A slide coated in Duracoat, Gunkote, etc, does not require this, since the metal area is protected by the finish.

OS

jacob.sebens · 04-10-2007, 06:04 AM

As it's explained at the link below, it seems like it's supposed to affect surface lubricity...and the Melonite QPQ should do all this, if you believe everything you're told.

Improved Wear Resistance
Improved Running Properties
Increased Fatigue and Rolling Fatigue Strengths
Heat Resistance
Black Color
Lower coefficient of Friction
Decreased surface roughness
Low Light Reflection
Further Decreased Coefficient of Friction
Enhanced Corrosion Resistance (Not suitable for stainless)

http://www.burlingtoneng.com/melonite.html

Edit: Oops...misread your post. Now I see that you were referring to oil as a rust preventative, not as a lubricant. But...sounds like it does that too, right?

**nsnate02** · 04-10-2007, 06:07 AM

Simply, you can't. Melonite is done during the heat treating process. It is given a salt-nitride bath prior to hardenening. The chemicals are absorbed into the metal and then it is hardened after that locking in the finish. You can not do this post hardening.

SpringfieldXD.40 · 04-10-2007, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nsnate02

Simply, you can't. Melonite is done during the heat treating process. It is given a salt-nitride bath prior to hardenening. The chemicals are absorbed into the metal and then it is hardened after that locking in the finish. You can not do this post hardening.

that is what I thought...

**nsnate02** · 04-10-2007, 06:16 AM

Also from what I've read (and this has been discussed in length here), I would wonder if this is the same Melonite as what the XD has. Melonite is a trade mark and I'm not sure I have ever heard of the QPQ addition. It sounds like a similar, but different process.

04-10-2007, 04:27 AM	#1
jacob.sebens XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 218	Why not refinish in Melonite? Title says it all. I see lots of people getting their pre-melonite XDs refinished with everything from Duracoat to NP3. Why doesn't anyone get it sent out for melonite treatment? I'm looking to refinish my XD...what's the best (most durable) option? __________________ "Give up! You are surrounded by an army of 12 thousand soldiers. (turns to camera) It's an old military ploy we call lying." - Darkwing Duck

04-10-2007, 04:52 AM	#4
jacob.sebens XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 218	Negative. The link below will show you one business that will melonite your slide if you send it to them...there are two others, but I'm on a work computer and can't access my personal files. http://www.coalcreekarmory.com/finis...632407edb81f1e Or have I misunderstood something? __________________ "Give up! You are surrounded by an army of 12 thousand soldiers. (turns to camera) It's an old military ploy we call lying." - Darkwing Duck

04-10-2007, 05:28 AM	#6
Old School XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 7,494	I may be off a bit on this, but a melonite finish still requires the used of oil for the benefit of rust protection. A slide coated in Duracoat, Gunkote, etc, does not require this, since the metal area is protected by the finish. OS __________________ Visit www.pistolgear.com for all of your XD needs!

04-10-2007, 06:04 AM	#7
jacob.sebens XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 218	As it's explained at the link below, it seems like it's supposed to affect surface lubricity...and the Melonite QPQ should do all this, if you believe everything you're told. Improved Wear Resistance Improved Running Properties Increased Fatigue and Rolling Fatigue Strengths Heat Resistance Black Color Lower coefficient of Friction Decreased surface roughness Low Light Reflection Further Decreased Coefficient of Friction Enhanced Corrosion Resistance (Not suitable for stainless) http://www.burlingtoneng.com/melonite.html Edit: Oops...misread your post. Now I see that you were referring to oil as a rust preventative, not as a lubricant. But...sounds like it does that too, right? __________________ "Give up! You are surrounded by an army of 12 thousand soldiers. (turns to camera) It's an old military ploy we call lying." - Darkwing Duck

04-10-2007, 06:07 AM	#8
nsnate02 XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,022	Simply, you can't. Melonite is done during the heat treating process. It is given a salt-nitride bath prior to hardenening. The chemicals are absorbed into the metal and then it is hardened after that locking in the finish. You can not do this post hardening. __________________ "It is better to be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt." *Abraham Lincoln*

04-10-2007, 04:35 AM	#2
chupacabrachus XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3,130	It's not an option. Your most durable next best choice is hard chroming or NP3 I think.

04-10-2007, 06:16 AM	#10
nsnate02 XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,022	Also from what I've read (and this has been discussed in length here), I would wonder if this is the same Melonite as what the XD has. Melonite is a trade mark and I'm not sure I have ever heard of the QPQ addition. It sounds like a similar, but different process. __________________ "It is better to be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt." *Abraham Lincoln*

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