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Question about Club Date hardware / plating

Posts: 170 Threads: 46

After putting about 20 hours into cleaning and polishing the nickel hardware (which only got me through about 2/3 of the hardware!) on my recently acquired '64 Club Date / Combo set without getting the results I was hoping for, I've decided to just have everything re-plated.

I've received a recommendation from a knowledgable friend for a plating company in nearby Addison, IL called Courtesy Metal (anyone here heard of them/used them?), so I called. The guy I spoke with said he has done work on drum hardware before and didn't seem at all phased by the idea of lots of small and odd shaped and sized parts. He even asked if the base metal was steel or brass, indicating some knowledge of the task at hand.

So I'm planning on taking everything over there this Saturday morning and having it re-plated in nickel.

Here's the issue: The dog bone t-rods on the bass drum look to me like the dog bone / handle part has never been plated. The rods are nickel plated, but the dog bones look like a kind of duller, gray-colored metal that is polished, but not plated with anything silver-y. (Sorry I don't have a pic handy, but I can post one later today if anyone wants to see it.)

So my question: does anyone here have an older Club Date bass with original nickel plated t-rods, and if so, can you post pics or tell me if they look like mine?

I'd like to re-plate everything the way it's supposed to be plated, but I'm not sure if this part should be completely plated, or just the rod section. The only photos of C.D. t-rods I've been able to find here or elsewhere online all seem to show chrome rather than nickel plated t-rods like mine (and on those, the dog bone is chrome plated).

Anyone?

Thanks.

Scott

Posted on 14 years ago
#1
Posts: 1212 Threads: 37

Hey Scott, I don't know about the color but make sure the plater is comfortable doing die cast pot metal. When I looked into platers, most of them wouldn't touch the die cast stuff (lugs) because it isn't quite the same as straight steel or brass. Just something to be aware of...

Show 'em off when you get them done...

_________________________

MY Dirty Little Collection
Posted on 14 years ago
#2
Posts: 106 Threads: 31

Scott,

I just acquired a club date that needs tlc as well. Please keep us up to date, I may use the same plater since I live in NW Indiana.

Greg

Posted on 14 years ago
#3
Posts: 2628 Threads: 40

[COLOR="DarkRed"]Well...best of luck...

Personally, I just recently redid a nickel-hardware Clubdate rehab and although the originlal plating cleaned up to a sorta muted nickel-green color, it looked very good in the end.

That must be a hecka expensive replating fee you are gonna pay, there....[/COLOR]

www.2ndending.com
Posted on 14 years ago
#4
Posts: 170 Threads: 46

From Jaye

[COLOR="DarkRed"]Well...best of luck...Personally, I just recently redid a nickel-hardware Clubdate rehab and although the originlal plating cleaned up to a sorta muted nickel-green color, it looked very good in the end.That must be a hecka expensive replating fee you are gonna pay, there....[/COLOR]

I'm not sure yet how much it's going to cost. If it's too much, I may have second thoughts. But the hardware is so pitted and oxidized now that I think re-plating is the only way to save it.

Can you tell me what the dog bones on the t-rods look like on your set, or post a picture?

Thanks.

Scott

Posted on 14 years ago
#5
Posts: 49 Threads: 11

Personally, I just recently redid a nickel-hardware Clubdate

You had to redo nickel hardware? Was it not brass underneath? I've got these old WFL NOB drums and the plating is in VG cond. , so just wondering

about your nickel . . . :)

Posted on 14 years ago
#6
Posts: 1190 Threads: 86

I think you should try Cape Cod polishing cloths.

RE-Plating will probably cost more than the drums are worth.

I'd like to see some before / after photos of the nickel you tried to polish.

"You had to redo nickel hardware? Was it not brass underneath? I've got these old WFL NOB drums and the plating is in VG cond. , so just wondering

about your nickel . . ."

I don't think Ludwig (or Slingerland or Rogers (beavertail) ) lugs were ever brass...they are, indeed "pot" metal.

The rims are COB.

Posted on 14 years ago
#7
Posts: 6287 Threads: 375

Cape Cods are the bomb

Kevin
Posted on 14 years ago
#8
Posts: 170 Threads: 46

From Rich K.

I think you should try Cape Cod polishing cloths.RE-Plating will probably cost more than the drums are worth.I'd like to see some before / after photos of the nickel you tried to polish.

Attached are before and after pics of a cleaned lug.

I used 0000 steel wool and Blue Magic, rubbing as gently as possible to take the least amount of surface off, two times. It looks a better of course, but against the silver sparkle wrap, it just doesn't look as good as it could. It's basically covered with tiny bumps of pitting that make it look dull and gray, much more so in real life than in these photos.

I'm going to visit the plating guy in the morning and see what he says. If it ends up being too costly, I may not do it, or maybe I'll only do the parts I think need it the most (the hoops and maybe the t-rods).

I'll be sure to post updates.

Scott

Posted on 14 years ago
#9
Posts: 526 Threads: 60

From checker758

Attached are before and after pics of a cleaned lug.I used 0000 steel wool and Blue Magic, rubbing as gently as possible to take the least amount of surface off, two times. It looks a better of course, but against the silver sparkle wrap, it just doesn't look as good as it could. It's basically covered with tiny bumps of pitting that make it look dull and gray, much more so in real life than in these photos.I'm going to visit the plating guy in the morning and see what he says. If it ends up being too costly, I may not do it, or maybe I'll only do the parts I think need it the most (the hoops and maybe the t-rods).I'll be sure to post updates.Scott

Do keep us posted! I've been thinking about doing the same to my recent Club Date acquisition. I'd love to hear about your experiences.

Kits:
1950s Gretsch Name Band in Midnight Blue Pearl (13/16/22/14sn)
1965/66 Ludwig Club Dates rewrapped in Black Diamond Pearl (12/15/20)
Posted on 14 years ago
#10
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