View Single Post
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 01-27-2008, 02:51 PM
mpierich mpierich is offline
Metal Finishing Guru
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 717
mpierich is a glorious beacon of lightmpierich is a glorious beacon of lightmpierich is a glorious beacon of lightmpierich is a glorious beacon of lightmpierich is a glorious beacon of lightmpierich is a glorious beacon of light
Default Re: Is There A Better Way To Remove Tarnish From Nickel?

Quote:
Originally Posted by HowdeeDoodee View Post
Thank you for the response. Nickel does not "tanish" as does brass but nickel does, I think the word is "oxidize". From what little I know, the sulfur content in the brass underneath the plating sort of "bubbles up" into the surface of the plating and then the sulfur chemically interacts with the oxygen in the air, thus creating this black stuff. I have been doing this removal work by hand and cannot get down to the metal only part of the metal pieces to be cleaned. Is there a wheel and compound that will remove the oxidation without removing any of the plating?
If the pieces are of a decent size, get a 4" loose cotton wheel or two and some white compound. Use a drill with a mandrel and try cleaning them that way. Rake the wheel often.
OR
If the pieces are small, get a few 6" loose wheels and run them on a bench grinder or similar machine. This shold have the same effect as your hand rubbinh, only a zillion times faster.

I suggest a drill first because of the slow speed, thus making it less likely that you will burn thru the plating.
Reply With Quote