Can you order just the Bi-Tone Slide for the XD 45acp?

[JoshGrrrr]

Originally Posted by bubbatime

The only way that you are gonna get that surface hardening melonite off is if you grind it off as far as I know.

I'm sure it can be chemically removed. I've yet to see a coating/plating that can't be chemically removed.

[jednp]

correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't melonite/tennifer a complete treatment of the metal all the way through? not just a surface treatment. It's not something you remove.

[Lubbock]

Think about it, guys. It's not so bad to have a mean, ugly gun, as long as it works properly.

[bubbatime]

I'm not so sure. There are chemical changes and physical changes. When you cut a piece of paper in two, the paper is still the same. When you add heat (fire)to the paper, the paper is no longer the same.

Melonite is applied at about 1000 degrees, and thus has changed the metal. I still think that you have to grind the melonite off.

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

[Justice4all]

Originally Posted by Lubbock

Think about it, guys. It's not so bad to have a mean, ugly gun, as long as it works properly.

I agree 100%, which is why I went with the .45's that come with this finish. However, people are always ready to adjust or customize their possesions either for the idea of making them unique or for the "cool" factor.


I had posted the link to the refinisher earlier, quite a bit of good info. And I'd bet it would be near impossible to get the case hardening layer removed from slide or anything else for that matter after reading the cool and informative info found on the site in the link.

Here's a cool link with some good pics. The non polished chrome plated slides look good.

http://www.apwcogan.com/other_current_pistols_sig.htm


And some info on the process:

http://www.apwcogan.com/hard_chrome.htm

[Lubbock]

Wowee!! That DOES look good!

[JoshGrrrr]

Originally Posted by bubbatime

I'm not so sure. There are chemical changes and physical changes. When you cut a piece of paper in two, the paper is still the same. When you add heat (fire)to the paper, the paper is no longer the same.

Melonite is applied at about 1000 degrees, and thus has changed the metal. I still think that you have to grind the melonite off.

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

It sounds like it really is just a type of carburizing. If that's the case it may not even need to be removed before re-plating. If anything, a quick acid dip or beadblasting should have it ready for re-coating.

[FenderBender]

The hard chroming looks good. Do you think powder coating it would hold up?

So what if some people want to customize their weapons? Sure it will work fine for what you want it to do. Its like when you buy a car, you buy one that will do the job but you also want it to look good. No one WANTS an ugly gun or everything would look like a Glock

[The Tengu]

Originally Posted by Justice4all

Have you done this or know someone that has? I ask as my understanding is that when plating something with chrome, a layer of copper has to be laid down first. While the chrome is quite durable, the underlaying copper is not. What can happen is that if there is a nick in the chrome, the copper can be attacked by cleaning solvents commonly used to clean weapons, which in turn causes the chrome to peel or flake from the item in question. I've seen this firsthand on a weapon that I owned that was hard chromed. I had always thought of chrome as very durable until my weapon had these issues. However, it could have just been a poor chrome job.


The main point of my prior post was to see if anyone knew if the surface hardening (melonite) had to be removed before the chroming process.

Not starting anything, just discussing.

My bad. The layer of copper is for electroplating nickle.

I am referring to electroless nickle plating, which is nickle-to-base metal. No copper there. Same thing with hard chroming, there is no intermediate metal plating necessary. It bonds straight to the base metal.

What would typically happen is that the refinisher would do a light bead/sand blast of the melonited slide to remove the surface finish (blackening). This usually won't be so deep that the melonite is ****ed up.

After that, the hard chrome or electroless nickle is applied to the melonited steel.

Electroless nickle plating and hard chrome should really never ever peel, unless the metal was improperly prepped.

[JoshGrrrr]

Originally Posted by FenderBender

The hard chroming looks good. Do you think powder coating it would hold up?

So what if some people want to customize their weapons? Sure it will work fine for what you want it to do. Its like when you buy a car, you buy one that will do the job but you also want it to look good. No one WANTS an ugly gun or everything would look like a Glock

I'm a CNC programmer/machinist. I used to work at a shop that made surgical tools. Everything we made was 17-4 stainless that was then satin hard chromed. It was an extremely durable finish, one of the hardest I've ever worked with. If the laser marker messed up on a few we had to hydrohone the chrome off and re-chrome them. Hydrohoning is similar to beadblasting only the media is propelled via high pressure water instead of air. Even with the hydrohone is was quite a job to remove the chrome. I was very impressed with it. I will be taking my receiver there as soon as I get the chance to have a buddy hook me up with a chrome job. It's not a finish that can peel.