need help from here:

[tvsp]

I'm restoring this 1939 drum & have been cleaning up the metals best I can. The 'lugs' (with the R on them) are pot metal, as I have determined by putting a drop of muratic acid & seeing the sizzle/smoke/smell. The hoops are steel; a magnet sticks. As pictured below, I cleaned up the lugs best I can with 120 to 600 sandpaper, then black compound on a 6" wheel. I like the vintage look, so I just clear coated them with spray lacquer. I guess I could have flash copper coated several times & sanded to get rid of the cracks if I wanted? Those cracks look pretty deep, would they re-appear if I'd replated?
Then on the hoops, I beadblasted, then some sandpapers as above, and black compound. As you can see, pitt city!! For the life of me I can't get the surface any lower with the sandpapers and would like to get rid of the pitts. What next? Would I have to flash copper several times & sand, then nickel plate, or do I need to fill the pitts, or just keep sanding, then polish?

[tvsp]

Here are the AFTER pics:

[fly]

It looks like you just have to grind off the old nickle, but its hard to tell, if I were grinding the parts I would use a med. 3M disk on a 90 die grinder. THen go to the polishing, the parts look pretty good.

[tvsp]

So you think I haven't gotten the nickel off? I'm not familiar with what a 3M disk on a 90 die grinder is (sorry, new to this) - can someone clarify?

[tvsp]

Sorry, still stuck on this; help!

[pickleboy]

here is an example of the 90 degree die grinder
http://www.irtools.com/IS/product.asp/item/79
and here is the 3m disks
http://products3.3m.com/catalog/us/e...imageid_148180
these will take off most any finish there is but be careful as they can be very aggresive and remove more than you want to. hope this helps if not let us know what you need more help with.

[tvsp]

Thanks! Seeing the discs, I can see what has to be done now; didn't know I had to be that aggressive with it, but will do.

[fly]

Yea I use the med, and coarse, but don't press down very hard and buy the 3" disk, once you see the plating come off then your ready for polishing...

[mpierich]

Originally Posted by tvsp

So you think I haven't gotten the nickel off? I'm not familiar with what a 3M disk on a 90 die grinder is (sorry, new to this) - can someone clarify?

I got a set of plated hand levers and controls for a Harley that had the crappy plating peeling off and the guy wanted them polished. I was able to strip off the plating with 80g greaseless pretty easily, and it didn't gouge the aluminum.