Dlister70 Posted October 24, 2016 Share Posted October 24, 2016 I've got a few flaws in the finish of my CTS, and I was thinking of getting it refinished this winter since there aren't many matches to go to anyway. I'd kind of like to get a hard chrome finish on it, like the DVC Limited guys have. All the guys I know that have a DVC limited don't seem to have scratches or holster wear or any of that on their gun like the guys with blued guns have. Does anyone have any experience getting a gun chromed? My googling led me here: http://www.apwcogan.com/plating-and-refinishing/finishes-metal-finishes.html But I don't know anything about the company apart from they seem to do hard chrome finishes and they seem to charge $210 to do it. That didn't sound unreasonable to me. I also can't really find a picture of a CTS or TS in that finish to get a better idea of how it would look. Most of the CZ 75s that I see chrome are a shiny chrome 75b, which I don't want. I want a matte finish and I want it durable. I'd be open to duracoat or cerakote or whatever other kind of process would achieve what I want. I'm more concerned with the durability of the finish and final color than I am with what process gets me there. But clearly I don't know enough about it to make a decision, so I figured I'd ask you folks for opinions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteDingo Posted October 24, 2016 Share Posted October 24, 2016 APW is one of the go to shops for hard chrome. Another popular shop is Metaloy. Hard chrome will be more durable than duracoat or cerakote. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadpilot Posted October 24, 2016 Share Posted October 24, 2016 I'd give CZCustom a call and see what company they use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kneelingatlas Posted October 24, 2016 Share Posted October 24, 2016 I've used Techplate in Anaheim, CA and was very happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eerw Posted October 24, 2016 Share Posted October 24, 2016 52 minutes ago, Leadpilot said: I'd give CZCustom a call and see what company they use. Techplate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matts2k Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 man, whose gun is that, it looks awesome ;p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dlister70 Posted October 25, 2016 Author Share Posted October 25, 2016 Yeah, that's an awesome looking gun! Thank you for the insight guys, I'll check those companies out! I think hard chrome is the way to go based on the stuff I've read about it. It sounds like it holds up really well, and I like the looks of it too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek45 Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 (edited) http://www.mahovskysmetalife.com/Metalife Finish Page 2.htm Edited October 25, 2016 by Derek45 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1sickPuppy Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 I've used Techplate in Anaheim, CA and was very happy.Is there any fitting required after the hard chroming process? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SDM Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 (edited) On 10/24/2016 at 0:16 AM, Dlister70 said: ....I also can't really find a picture of a CTS or TS... I'd go with APW. Edited October 25, 2016 by SDM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kneelingatlas Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 6 hours ago, 1sickPuppy said: Is there any fitting required after the hard chroming process? No Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronicTwitch Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 Metaloy hard chrome matte finish on my TS frame. I removed all the parts and sanded off the psuedo-checkering before sending. Only $150 plus shipping (FFL item since it still had a serial number on it). Very durable finish, better than the factory polycoat for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChuckS Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 (edited) 12 minutes ago, kneelingatlas said: No Actually, more like maybe. It depends how tight your gun is fitted. I just had Techplate hard chrome a new slide for my open gun. It was a used frame, new slide and I put about 2500 rounds on the slide in the white prior to plating. My gunsmith did a very good job fitting the slide to the frame since when I got it back from plating, some lapping was needed for it to free fit. Techplate says the HC default finish thickness is 0.002" min. I have had a STI slide fitted to a used Para frame and it free fit without any further work. Edited October 25, 2016 by ChuckS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dlister70 Posted October 25, 2016 Author Share Posted October 25, 2016 5 hours ago, SDM said: I'd go with APW. Awesome looking gun!! I have seen several good things about APW on this and other sites, they seem like the front runner so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SDM Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 Thank you. The only "fitting" trouble I had was the screw that holds the mag release spring. The chrome got in there and the screw wouldn't tighten. If I was doing it again I'd just put it back in the gun before sending it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kells81 Posted October 26, 2016 Share Posted October 26, 2016 I have some hard wood for a hard chrome with polished flats SP-01 shadow. Not sure why but I ran across a picture of one somewhere online and man it looked sweet. I have had a couple of 1911's HC'ed. I used Fords. On one of them I had to kinda break it back in because it wasn't 100% functional when I received it back. After a few hundred rounds and working the slide a bit it was ball bearing smooth and reliable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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