Deplating Nickel

[longspeak_5]

I have a couple of old revolvers that are factory nickel. Old Colts to be exact. An OP and a New Service. Don't freak, not of great value by any means. I have an old gunsmith book, copyright 1946, by Walter Howe. He talks of a solution for removing nickel. It is comprised of 7 oz. ammonia persulphate, 3 oz. ammonia carbonate, and 2 qts. liquid ammonia 28%. There's no reference to any electrical source. He simply says, mix these components, place the degreased parts in a pyrex dish and pour the soulution over them until covered with an 1/8" to spare. once the parts show a dull grayish color, the nickel is dissolved and will wash of with water. He doesn't say how long this takes, or if there is any optimum temprature. Anyway, I tried it. Soaked several parts for over 36 hours and the nickel didn't budge.
What am I missing here? The ammonia I have was noted as 30% and I can only believe it since it will knock you on your butt if you get a whiff of it, and I feel my supplier of the other two components was honest in what he sent me. Am I wasting my time?

[lcaswell]

I can't imagine that that solution would touch Nickel.

Try this instead: Caswell Inc. - MetalX Nickel Strippers

[longspeak_5]

Sounds good, but help me a bit further. Did, or does Colt lay the nickel straight to the steel, or do they undercoat with copper? Does the B-929 remove the copper undercoat also?