The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

So much of the time a rear mount Columbia tone arm is missing a significant amount of its nickel plating. (Why Columbia attempted nickel plating aluminum is beyond me!) Is there an easy way to remove the remaining nickel plating so the tone arm can have a polished aluminum finish? Jerry Blais

Best way is to strip chemically---reverse plating effectively---at your local plating company. Does not take long and guarantees an even surface for subsequent polishing.

Jerry B. wrote:So much of the time a rear mount Columbia tone arm is missing a significant amount of its nickel plating. (Why Columbia attempted nickel plating aluminum is beyond me!)

Car manufacturers went through a similar phase of chrome plating aluminum wheels in the 1990's. They hold up roughly as well (aka poorly).
It doesn't have to look good forever, just longer than the warranty, or ideally until the product is no longer in style

Jerry, Maybe you can take this tonearm to your local plater and have them chemically strip off the old nickel as they would as if they were going to plate it and then you could buff it out. Just a thought.

Wes

Here is my method, simple and easy. Disassemble the arm out of the bracket. Then rub 0000 steel wool to remove the loose plating. Then use a very soft, fine wire brush to remove the stubborn plating. You can use either a drill mounted one, hand brush or for a Dremel Tool. Use it very lightly, so deep scratches don't occur. Once the plating is removed, lightly buff with 0000 steel wool again. That will remove any surface scratches. After the arm is buffed out, use Mother's Mag. It is a polish for aluminum Mag wheels that you can get at any good auto store. The end result is a nice soft, silvery luster. Your tone arm will look great after that.
Harvey Kravitz

Thanks Harvey, I will give that a try. Jerry