Removal of nickel from antique gun barrel

[chaspip]

I posed this question to Mike Caswell, to which he replied with a suggestion to enter the problem here on a forum, figuring there were gun enthusiasts out there: I have an 1900's vintage smooth bore rifle, that has inadvertently been damaged by someone trying to fix a piece by using a nickel welding rod. I had an idea where I could use the barrel, with the nickel weld, as an anode, and through electrolysis, remove the offending nickel form the barrel, and depositing it onto the cathode in a plating fashion. I realize through the electrolysis process it would require a nickel "salts" bath, and would probably take quite a while to remove the nickel entirely from the metal, but the piece is basically garbage now, and rewelding and reblueing the barrel would bring back some of the original value. With the nickel obviously exposed on the surface, I have little alternative other than to try and grind it out. Mike thinks the steel of the barrel would also dissolve along with the nickel. I was thinking it would basically "pull" the nickel out of the surface, to replace the nickel in the electrolyte during a plating process. Would a nickel stripping solution be more appropriate? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

[muskie]

I guess blasting it is not an option? have seen various grits of media used to blast gun barrels with alot of sucess. if not shoot me a pm and I can set you up with some people who could help.

[NOL4154]

Interesting, I have stripper thousand of parts of all types of formations. But what I am good at is removing nickel plating.
Now you say it’s a nickel welding rod. First, what is the alloy mixture Ni%, Co %, etc… I am sure it is not pure nickel. Once you figure the alloy type proceded.

Nickel plating can be removed using chemistry. Nickel plating! Welding? But it's metal.
I have remove nickel through "selective" stripping using reverse current (anodic). The solution is sulfuric acid/water ( density 52 using a hydometer).
Remember acid to water! You would think the acid would attack the steel but it does not due to the density of the solution.

The secret to selective stripping "Masking". Call Caswell and see if they shock platers pluggs, tape, or liquid mask. Using these products will give you the flexilibity to mask areas that you do not want to strip. I recommend liquid mask. Mask areas to be affected and begin stripping. It would be wise to test first.
If you need more information e-mail me.
Nol4154



Removal of nickel from antique gun barrel

I posed this question to Mike Caswell, to which he replied with a suggestion to enter the problem here on a forum, figuring there were gun enthusiasts out there: I have an 1900's vintage smooth bore rifle, that has inadvertently been damaged by someone trying to fix a piece by using a nickel welding rod. I had an idea where I could use the barrel, with the nickel weld, as an anode, and through electrolysis, remove the offending nickel form the barrel, and depositing it onto the cathode in a plating fashion. I realize through the electrolysis process it would require a nickel "salts" bath, and would probably take quite a while to remove the nickel entirely from the metal, but the piece is basically garbage now, and rewelding and reblueing the barrel would bring back some of the original value. With the nickel obviously exposed on the surface, I have little alternative other than to try and grind it out. Mike thinks the steel of the barrel would also dissolve along with the nickel. I was thinking it would basically "pull" the nickel out of the surface, to replace the nickel in the electrolyte during a plating process. Would a nickel stripping solution be more appropriate? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!