While looking over another web forum, it is interesting reading comments from non engravers quoting an engraver and discussing if you can/should engrave through an existing nickle finish or not. These so called consumer experts are rather firm in their belief that you can engrave through the nickle with no problems and the job would be rather professional according to their favored engraver. Their are a few wise dissenting voices trying to tell them that this is not a good idea.
As we all know, or at least should know, engraving through an existing plated finish CAN be done and a few engravers try to do this to save money for the client or just are too lazy to do the job right.
Let me state for the readers of this forum that this is NOT a professional way to engrave a gun. The plating should be removed from the gun and replated afterwards. If you leave the finish on you open up a whole can of worms that will affect the finished engraving. When you engrave you are raising burrs along the cuts and at the end of your cuts. How do you sand these down when done without ruining the existing plating? The plating can also flake as you cut creating an ugly ragged edge to your engraving and the future potential of the plating flaking off. You also are exposing bare engraved metal that would be a different color and prone to rusting.
The bottom line is..if you're an engraver or client, do the job the right way. Don't engrave through existing plating in order to save a few bucks.

Martin Rabeno
7/28/2005 9:10:23 AM