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Wire wool for chrome?

Posts: 1344 Threads: 172

Hi guys. I take a lot of pride in my chrome, hence the name, Chromeo. ;)

I have sitting in front of me my Ludwig pre serial COB Super. At a glance the shell looks fine. It has some areas on the chrome that look a bit cloudy and there are some scuffs here and there. Nothing you'd notice on a galloping horse, but I would of course like this snare to be gleaming and I have been thinking about using some fine wire wool and chrome polish to get the chrome mirror-like. I'm just afraid of damaging the chrome and not sure if the fine wire wool technique would be too aggressive.

Should I try it? Would you encourage such behavior? :) What would you say guys? Any advise welcomed, but I know for cleaning chrome wire wool and polish always get's the best results.

Posted on 9 years ago
#1
Posts: 2241 Threads: 379

Hey, Chromeo,

In my opinion, steel wool is never an option. No matter how fine it is, it always leaves minute scratches which actually dull the surface. Try Turtle Wax Chrome Polish and Rust Remover followed by a light coat of carnauba wax and a good hand polishing.

Brian

Just a drummer who loves all things about vintage drums! Nothing more, nothing less.
Posted on 9 years ago
#2
Posts: 1344 Threads: 172

From salty 1322

Hey, Chromeo, In my opinion, steel wool is never an option. No matter how fine it is, it always leaves minute scratches which actually dull the surface. Try Turtle Wax Chrome Polish and Rust Remover followed by a light coat of carnauba wax and a good hand polishing. Brian

Sound advise, Brian. I'll have to give that a try first. I wanted to run it by you guys before I attempted using steel wool and I was hoping somebody would advise me not to use steel wool because I was thinking the same thing - that it might do more harm than good. Thanks for the tips. I'll try that and see how I get on.

Posted on 9 years ago
#3
Posts: 2241 Threads: 379

From Chromeo

Sound advise, Brian. I'll have to give that a try first. I wanted to run it by you guys before I attempted using steel wool and I was hoping somebody would advise me not to use steel wool because I was thinking the same thing - that it might do more harm than good. Thanks for the tips. I'll try that and see how I get on.

Hi again, Chromeo!

I think that you're making a wise choice. Steel wool can actually make the surface duller. Try rubbing even very fine steel wool over a pair of cheap sunglasses and then peering through them. You'll see what I mean. Even if we can't see the very fine scratches with the naked eye, they are there!

Brian

Just a drummer who loves all things about vintage drums! Nothing more, nothing less.
Posted on 9 years ago
#4
Posts: 9005 Threads: 266

Never use steel wool on chrome! Punto, period, end of story. The chrome layer on a plated snare drum is only microns thick. Using steel wool not only micro-scratches the polished surface, if enough pressure is applied, steel wool can sand right through the chrome layer.

Just polish and use only soft cotton rags. Elbow grease is the key ingredient.

John

Too many great drums to list here!

http://www.walbergandauge.com/VintageVenue.htm
Posted on 9 years ago
#5
Posts: 1342 Threads: 71

Please do not use steel wool on any part of any drum!

Posted on 9 years ago
#6
Posts: 5550 Threads: 576

BUT ...I know a restorer, who uses a soft ***elers brass wheel, and then a polishing wheel, and

well NO scratches just nice polished chrome ...Idont use it but brass is softer Im just saying

April 2nd 1969 scarfed pink champagne holly wood and 65/66 downbeat snare, and , supra same year very minty kit old pies
66/67 downbeat with canister
Super 400 small round knob
1967 super classic obp





once the brass ceases to glitter, and the drum looses its luster, and the stage remains dark, all you have left is the timbre of family.
Posted on 9 years ago
#7
Posts: 6524 Threads: 37

From jaghog

BUT ...I know a restorer, who uses a soft ***elers brass wheel, and then a polishing wheel, andwell NO scratches just nice polished chrome ...

They show up when you use a flash camera.

NEVER steel wool. Use a chrome bumper cleaner/polish. Nothing with abrasive ingredients.

It`s a drum,.....Hit It !!

.....76/#XK9207 Phonic Sound Machine D454/D-505 snares !i
Posted on 9 years ago
#8
Posts: 2809 Threads: 32

I cant believe this still comes up.

This is the kind of thing that once done, cannot be undone without great expense and difficulty. Seriously. The polished brass is costing me a couple hundred to fix. The chrome one........... I don't think I will invest the money into. This is head on a pike territory here.

Never, ever.

[IMG]http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu169/ThePloughman/Snare%20Drums/IMG_0729_zpsee774ad6.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu169/ThePloughman/DSCN1763_zpsbde7bc7f.jpg[/IMG]

Rogers Drums Big R era 1975-1984 Dating Guide.
http://www.vintagedrumforum.com/showthread.php?t=24048
Posted on 9 years ago
#9
Posts: 2115 Threads: 26

The only place to consider using steel wool on a drum kit is potentially cleaning the threads on really nasty tension rods. Otherwise, no way. Head on a pike indeed.

tnsquint
Very proud owner of a new Blaemire Snare 6.5 x 14 made by Jerry Jenkins "Drumjinx"
Posted on 9 years ago
#10
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