The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I initially posted this in the technical forum, but I think perhaps this forum might receive more traffic.

Anyway, would anyone care to offer any advice about nickel polishing? In my particular case, I am talking relatively light tonearm cleaning and very small spots of superficial rust.

Again, my thanks to all...

Maas is an excellent polish for a brilliant shine. if you've got crud then Nev-R- Dull Magic Wadding will remove dirt and corrosion, though it takes a lot of elbow grease. Be warned (if you're not aware) that sometimes nickle plate looses all it's luster and nothing will bring it back.

OK, who's willing to admit that they use 0000 steel wool very carefully on nickeled parts?







(I do)

"Mothers Polish" works great on nickel and is non-abrasive. You can find this product at a locamotive store.

Jerry B. wrote:OK, who's willing to admit that they use 0000 steel wool very carefully on nickeled parts?







(I do)

definitely, especially when they're particularly dingey (never on gold plating though - it would strip it right off). I've used flitz as well, but that can get costly as sometimes you can go through quite a bit on just a few bad pieces.

estott wrote:Be warned (if you're not aware) that sometimes nickle plate looses all it's luster and nothing will bring it back.

Yes, kind of like my vintage nickel bathroom faucets! I spent hours trying to shine them up, but they're a lost cause...

Phonofolks wrote:You can find this product at a locamotive store.

I guess I'm not "in the know" here... never knew such a place existed!

Jerry B. wrote:OK, who's willing to admit that they use 0000 steel wool very carefully on nickeled parts?







(I do)

I've used it on the previously mentioned lost cause nickel bathroom faucets after all hope was lost... didn't do any damage, just saw no improvement. I've also used it on my bicycle chromed parts, which worked quite well. But that's quite another story.

I noticed you mentioned "Flitz."

I recommended that in a post on another board -- http://www.phonoland.com/viewtopic.php? ... cb&start=0

(I'm Joe_DS at Phonoland.)

Apparently, the results were pretty good.

Great! I've been waiting for someone to talk "bicycles"! I collect bikes from the 40's through the 60's and battle with rust. Someone suggested using a mild hydrofluoric acid solution for removing light rust. It works great. When I use it to clean and remove rust from rims, I use a a little brass brush (about the size of a toothbrush) with the hydrofluoric acid and it works great. It will take a rim that looks like a lost cause and make it quite presentable. I wondered how it would work on a nickel horn and I quickly found out that you DO NOT us hydrofluoric acid on anything that has been nickeled. I'm really glad that I used it on a low end horn because the acid quickly washes off the nickel. Jerry Blais