restore chrome finish drums. need help
the other john
storage and when they were recently pulled out of there they
unfortunately had a corrosion covering that once beautiful chrome
finish. I need ideas for restoring these if at all possible. I want
to do it correctly and and not damage them further. This set is
valuable to me and want to restore them to close to original condition.
Possible?
Thanks!
John
Steve Turner
Bar Keeper's Friend.
--
Free bad advice available here.
To reply, eat the taco.
the other john
nick amoroso
the other john wrote:
> I have a set of slingerlands with a chrome finish. there were in
> storage and when they were recently pulled out of there they
> unfortunately had a corrosion covering that once beautiful chrome
> finish. I need ideas for restoring these if at all possible. I want
> to do it correctly and and not damage them further. This set is
> valuable to me and want to restore them to close to original condition.
> Possible?
> Thanks!
> John
i just had to do the same to a '63 slingerland 6-lug snare. #0000
steel wool followed by mother's chrome polish did the trick; the drum
now looks unbelievable. the chrome polish also cleaned up the red
sparkle wrap (it's completely non-abrasive).
nick
http://www.nickamoroso.com
"What's Live 8?" ~ Boris Kosse
Steve Turner
kapop
You serious? Or is this just "bad advice?" (Sorry, couldn't resist referring
to your sig.) I thought this stuff was pretty much like Ajax, Comet, or Bon
Ami - IOW, just another abrasive powder cleanser.
Karl
Steve Turner
Yes, I'm serious. Google this group for other people who swear by the
stuff. I steal my wife's can all the time and I haven't found it to be
abrasive in the least. I don't know what's in it, but whatever it is it
works! It melts right through that dusty crusty layer that always seems
to build up on chrome and other metal surfaces when they're left exposed
for long periods of time, and it never leaves the slightest hint of a
scratch.
Of course, if the lugs and rims on John's Slingerlands have developed
deep pitting in the chrome plating, nothing short of replacing or
replating those parts is *truly* going to fix it, but once again Bar
Keeper's Friend is just about the best thing I've found for restoring
such parts to "mostly presentable" condition (short of a full replacement).
Benj
nick amoroso wrote:
> i just had to do the same to a '63 slingerland 6-lug snare. #0000
> steel wool followed by mother's chrome polish did the trick; the drum
> now looks unbelievable. the chrome polish also cleaned up the red
> sparkle wrap (it's completely non-abrasive).
This is basically what I did on my slingerland restoration and all
chrome restorations. Only I only use the steel wool if chrome polish
alone doesn't do it. I use automotive chrome polish which IS abrasive
but does NOT leave scratches. An alternative is automotive rubbing
compound which is basically the same stuff. Rubbing compound is used on
auto paint that is dull from the weather to bring a shine back to it.
It doesn't scratch anything though it is abrasive. If all else fails
there is always the buffing wheel. But be warned that buffing drum
parts is a VERY tricky thing to do and can send the parts shooting
across the room at high speed! If the chrome is so bad it has peeled
sections then restoration is pretty difficult and usually you just have
to pay to have the them re-chromed. Biker shops can send things off to
do this.
Benj
Mark D
I'm getting the impression that John's Slingerland Drum set is the COW
(Chrome over Wood), so this is something you can't send our to a Plater
to have refinished.
As far as can recall, Bar Keeper's Friend doesn't have any abrasives in
it, but works by some form of acid. I know it works wonders on cruddy
old Cymbals, bringing them back like new, but never tried it on Chrome
Surfaces.
I guess the best advice, would be to use the least agressive
methods-products first, and see what the results are.
Something like a good automotive cleaner wax usually won't harm delicate
plated finishes, even though there may be a small amount of very fine
abrasives. Something like steel wool might be great for something that's
really totally delapidated, but depending on just how hard you rub, may
produce very fine scratches in chrome. Use gentle rubbing first, and
try to let the product do the work.
As a last fix, but of course the most costly, would be a re-wrap. I'd
assume somebody out there still manufactures Chrome Wrap? Mark
the other john
cleans them alright but there is still pitting and the finish doesn't
seem to be clearing up the way I had hoped.
These are "chrome over wood" incidentally. there's a place here in
town that specializes in drum repair and refinishing but my guess is
that this might cost more that is might be worth.
again...soooo bummmed!!! :-(
Benj
the other john wrote:
> I am so bummed. I tried using chrome polish and #0000 steel wool. it
> cleans them alright but there is still pitting and the finish doesn't
> seem to be clearing up the way I had hoped.
>
> These are "chrome over wood" incidentally. there's a place here in
> town that specializes in drum repair and refinishing but my guess is
> that this might cost more that is might be worth.
>
> again...soooo bummmed!!! :-(
Yeah, too bad. Once a chrome finish is pitted, you are sort of doomed!
But you might be surprised that it might not look that bad in a dark
bar at a distance! New chrome drum wrap isn't exactly free, but has the
advantage making the kit look brand new. You can save money but just
getting the wrap and putting it on yourself. [well, I meant putting it
on the DRUMS yourself, not putting it yourself! :) If you have a
repair place do it I'm sure it would cost a bundle.
Benj