Nickel oxidizes over time. It's kind of like what happens with the old family teapot. Therefore, I have been told that polishes which are used to clean silverware also work well to clean nickel plated lugs, etc. I believe there was a mention of "j eweler's clothes" being something to look for. As far as maintaining it....maybe they can be waxed and buffed after polishing. I haven't done it, but that's something I would probably consider doing if I needed to....just something to seal off the surface of the nickel from the air.

Would polish like Flitz work well for cleaning the oxidation, and if so, would that be the way to bring back the shine?

Does nickel plating wear off and could I mistake dull nickel for actually being worn off or would that look different. Can only see in pictures so not sure what I am looking at.

Thanks.

I have no experience with Flitz so I can't comment on it.Help

The plating process involves a base metal casting that gets electroplated with copper first and then after the copper layer is laid, the nickel layer gets electroplated onto the copper layer. Therefore, I would presume that you would see a copper color showing through if the nickel plating was worn off.

FYI -Chrome was/is considered a more "deluxe" finish on hardware because it involves a third step in the plating process -which is to take the nickel-plated pieces and then electroplate them with chromium -which is much harder and more durable and resistant to oxidization than nickel, as well as adds the "bluish" twinge of it's reflective properties.

Great information, thanks very much.

I used WEIMAN metal polish for Brass, Copper and All Metals (silver bottle)

I polished twice and buffed a good long time. It worked very well. Amazing how much black gunk comes of of nickle.

The results are posted in the Drum Image Gallery , under WFL wmp 1958, currently on the second page.

I swear by Cape Cod Polishing Cloths...Ace Hardware Stores.

Mike Curotto

re: nickel plated lugs

In photos I've seen, worn or uncared for nickel plated lugs invariably show rust on the threads while the upper part of the lug has nickel remaining. I assume that when originally manufactured, the lugs were completely plated and that the rust results from the plating being worn off the threaded portion. If I've got that straight, what's the best way to clean the threads and remove the rust? Or would it just be better just to replace the lugs?

Thaks, Chuck

Yes, but to keep it more technically correct, you are talking about the tension rods and not the lugs. I have seen other people say lugs, but the lug casings are attached to the shell.

The tension rods can be easily cleaned with steel wool. Yes, this is one of those times I use it. I usually take a clump of 0000 steel wool, wrap it around the tension rod, apply a little pressure with a vise grip and screw it in and out with a drum key a few times.

Then I follow up with the same method with a little metal polish and a rag and they come out super clean.

There are other methods that I know people use, but this is what I do with the tools I have.

David

Try Mothers Mag & Aluminum polish...