Cutting a nickel shotgun barrel?

[dan9591]

I recently picked up a Stoeger coach gun: http://www.stoegerindustries.com/coach- ... ns-section

It is nickel plated. I plan on SBS'ing it but am concerned about the finish.

Anyone cut a nickel plated barrel before? What happened to the finish around the cut line? Any ideas on what I can expect?

I have looked up prices to refinish barrels and it isn't cheap at around $400. I would rather not refinish it unless I have no choice, but I also don't want a ragged muzzle.

[Bendersquint]

I recently picked up a Stoeger coach gun: http://www.stoegerindustries.com/coach- ... ns-section

It is nickel plated. I plan on SBS'ing it but am concerned about the finish.

Anyone cut a nickel plated barrel before? What happened to the finish around the cut line? Any ideas on what I can expect?

I have looked up prices to refinish barrels and it isn't cheap at around $400. I would rather not refinish it unless I have no choice, but I also don't want a ragged muzzle.

Depending on how it was processed it may be a clean cut or it may chip

[T-Rex]

What about a waterjet?
Not going to be a cheap cut, maybe $200, but it should be clean and smooth.

[sillycon]

A water jet will leave a taper between the top of the barrel and the bottom (or between the sides, depending on the orientation of the barrel to the water stream). Even a low taper water jet will leave a visible taper at shot-gun barrel diameters.

You could try a laser or plasma, but who knows how that would work with the coatings, and they would likely also have high setup costs, mess up the temper of the material, and you may end up having to refinish anyway.

[T-Rex]

If your dealing with a flatbed, then, yes.
However, this is the 21st century and we have rotary axis waterjets now.
The thickness of a shotgun bbl will have absolutely no taper to it when finished.
A laser or plasma will have too large a HAZ to not affect the finish.
The waterjet should come out nice and smooth. Might need a light buffing.

I didn't say it would be cheap

[sillycon]

If your dealing with a flatbed, then, yes.
However, this is the 21st century and we have rotary axis waterjets now.
The thickness of a shotgun bbl will have absolutely no taper to it when finished.
A laser or plasma will have too large a HAZ to not affect the finish.
The waterjet should come out nice and smooth. Might need a light buffing.

I didn't say it would be cheap

Now your setup/cut cost makes sense -- I was thinking flat bed, absolutely.

I'm not even sure if there's someone around me with one of those multi-axis-whirly-gig waterjets... heh. The only one I've ever even seen was from a video clip of "Orange County Choppers" that a buddy of mine sent me.

[T-Rex]

I'm not even sure if there's someone around me with one of those multi-axis-whirly-gig waterjets... heh.

And imagine the look they give you when you tell them what you want.....

[dan9591]

Well, so much for my cheap project!

What about cerakoting? How can I remove the finish myself? It won't be shiny, but better than chipped edges.

Then again, maybe I'll just chop it myself and keep the chipped edges... It may give it that ragged home made teotwawki look...

[T-Rex]

The correct way, and best final outcome, would be by reverse electrolysis.
There are home brews and some kits you can buy, but if you don't get every single, tiny, scrap of finish off the bbl, your final finish will look like a hack job. Also, reverse electrolysis will not damage the parent metal while the alternate methods run the risk of doing just this.