Removing Gold plate finish from metal model guns

Post by Mark

The gold (real) can be polished off using a rag with polishing compound and the gold will come off and leave a nice polished chrome like finish that can be blued later...
_________________
Wanted to buy: MGC Sten MK3....trades?(still)

MGC MP40 Marushin MP40 Nakata MP40 TRC MP40

Modelgun manufacturers, past and present:CMC,CAW,Hudson,HWS,LS,MGC(R.I.P. 1960's~2007) Marushin,Marui,Kokusai,Shoei,Tanaka and Western Arms

Post by Garyforce

really ! ........ hmmmmmm ! ...... somehow didnt think it would be that easy !

going to have to ask again ......... polishing compound ?? ..... anything in particular ??
_________________
- Gary

Post by Claymore

Elbow grease, Deh!! Sorry mate had to say it. The gold finish will polish of with a lot of hard work, metal polish and cloth or electric buffer (small model one) it will take time but you can polish it off to a very high chrome standard.

Post by jay851

here's my all metal m712,i polished all the gold off with brasso,then tried bluing it but it did'nt take too well,so i sprayed it up.to me it looks a little too new so i'm going to 'weather' it a bit to give it that used look. i have got to get myself a 20rnd mag and some more carts as this gun spits 10 out in no time at all.



jay

Post by radback

If you have a Marushin "metal finish" or "gold finish", you can change it for an advantageous "beautifull chrome finish" by polish it with some products for aluminium, like the excellent autosol paste.

I heard it's working also with kokusai gold metal guns.
_________________
Marushin M84 (broken)
MGC M16 Vietnam
and:



Shotgun wanted

Post by Mark

Originally, the gold plating was done to satisfy Japanese law.

So, many of the modelguns have to remain gold (at least in Japan)
as it would be illegal to possess a silver or blued zinc modelgun there.

It works for us outside of Japan of course, but I as of yet, haven't seen or handeled a gold-plated modelgun. So, to me, it would be an unique addition to my modelgun collection!

Post by John

I have a friend in HK who possesses a lot of model guns. He did use that paste to turn some of the Kokusai gold plated full metal revolvers into chrome finished ones. Look very cool and realistic. But it really takes time and effort.

To me, I choose not to do anything because I have no time at all.

Post by 2sharp

Has anoyone tried bead-blasting for removing the gold-plating?

I was thinking using low pressure and very fine medium, like glass beads.

I've beadblasted quite a lot of knives and other metal stuff and it usually leaves a nice, dull and even look to it.

Should be much quicker the any polishing, altough dull in appearance.

Post by Illuminati

Never tried it myself, it'll be quicker yea, but you would run the risk of damaging it, remember the guns are made of very soft metal (mostly zinc i believe). I dont know what bead-blasting would do to such a soft metal as i cant say ive ever tried it myself. Polishing it all off by hand gives you a sense of achievement aswell, like hell yea look at that lol

Post by 2sharp



True, soft metal it is...

I'll guess i'll just have to try it out

Now where to find a bead-blast cabinet??

Post by garyforce

i cant rember who it was (jay i think) ..... he just used "brasso" to remove the gold from his mauser and it came up a treat

at least thats as far as i can rember .......i may have dreamt it hehehe
_________________
- Gary

Post by Doc

Car brake fluid can be used to remove the "chrome" plate from plastic toy parts so may also be worth trying to remove the gold plate from these metal models (best try a small hidden area first)

Doc
_________________
We need guns...lots of guns....

.... well anything mechanical that can kill people is interesting ...

Post by Interceptor

Car brake fluid can help remove the gold plate but no risk it can endanger the silver plate ?
_________________
It was in the middle of a dark night, I was standing in the middle of the scene. No more ambiguities, no more questions, that old familiar feeling. I hated it, I welcomed it....

Post by Doc

I`ve used the fluid on plastic models but not yet on modelguns, the Chrome on modelguns should be sufficiant to withstand the fluid but I`d try it on a small area (perhaps under the grips)
All of my revolvers came in chrome with no gold on them to try.

naturally I am talking regular brake fluid and not the silicone stuff you find in some modern cars (I think lots of French cars use Silicone brake fluid..yes ?)
_________________
We need guns...lots of guns....

.... well anything mechanical that can kill people is interesting ...

Post by Mark

The "chrome" finish under the gold plating is highly polished zinc not chrome plating. Brasso and other polishes like Happich semi-chrome etc work best as they retain the polish that is just under the gold plating. Glass-beading will leave a nice dull matte finish that resembles a dirty grey stainless finish after a short time of handling the gun as your skin oils will discolor the unprotected zinc rapidly.
_________________
Wanted to buy: MGC Sten MK3....trades?(still)

MGC MP40 Marushin MP40 Nakata MP40 TRC MP40

Modelgun manufacturers, past and present:CMC,CAW,Hudson,HWS,LS,MGC(R.I.P. 1960's~2007) Marushin,Marui,Kokusai,Shoei,Tanaka and Western Arms

Post by 2sharp

Thank you Mark, i wouldn't want a dirty gun

Post by MT01

Hi,

If you like a nickel finish and are not averse to a bit of tough work, I believe it is possible to polish off the gold finish on the Metal Marushin mauser, and achieve a silver nickel like effect. A bit of brasso and maybe a soft dremel for the fine bits will probably help.

If you want to see what one looks like that has been polished down to silver, have a look at http://www.modelguns.co.uk/m712mauser.htm - looks very nice. It should also be possible to blue this as well.

Everytime I see a picture of a modelgun I want to buy one... I think I need help...

Post by shazhib

This one looks really nice in silver as well. Here is photo of mine(not as good as that of modelgun company one), this one was in silver when I got this. Although, I've never fired it, but can enjoy inserting dummy rounds, some time with wooden stock, or inserting 20 rounds mag, it'll entertain your eyes in a different formation.

Post by John

Here is mine. Everything is original from Marushin. To me, gold color still
looks good & I won't do anything with it.

Hi, y'all!

I just removed the gold plating from my newly bought Tanaka SAA (thanks, Johnny!) and it was a walk in the park! I've read threads here where people ended up with numb and stiff fingers from hours and hours of polishing, so I was ready for a gruesome experience, but no! I used a swedish (a good tip for the swedish members here!) metal polish called "Häxan" ("The Witch" in english) and the rough side of a scotch brite sponge and the gold plating came off just like so; it took me under an hour to remove it all, amazing!   

I took a couple gold plated MGC broomhandles into an electroplating shop to get stripped. I should be getting them back soon. I'll post some pictures when I do. Wish I'd known about the Brasso/scotch-brite method, however there was just so much to strip off that maybe I'm glad I handed it off in the first place. They said that below the copper and nickel was the pot-metal, but that there was some pitting. Hopefully it's not too bad!

Complete disaster! The plate shop did THE OPPOSITE of what I asked and used corrosive baths to strip the chrome... I am at such a loss. They have agreed to make reparations, but I have been in a foul mood for a few days to be sure.



I'm just in complete shock x_x

Oh Jeez! mate thats bad, i would be so depressed. the pitting does not look good but is it worth trying to polish it up, got to be worth a try.

It certainly can't get any worse... I may try body filler and paint... it certainly can't get any worse. Most of the internal parts look like they weren't damaged as badly, but it's still just such a mess. The shop at first tried to weasel out of accepting any blame too... it was a very stressful morning of arguing over the phone.

claymore wrote:

Oh Jeez! mate thats bad, i would be so depressed. the pitting does not look good but is it worth trying to polish it up, got to be worth a try.

I feel for you... :-(