Klarinet Archive - Posting 000212.txt from 1994/09

From: James Follan <100345.3041@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Chromium plated keys
Date: Fri, 23 Sep 1994 18:36:26 -0400

As I understand it, the reason that chromium plating has occasionally been used
is that a small number of people have very acidic perspiration, which strips
through nickel or silver plate, and erodes the nickel-silver keywork itself.
Chromium prevents this, although I only know of one or two players in the U.K.
who have had to have this done.

Incidentally, if keywork is re-plated, the plater will first strip off the
previous plating using a strong acid bath or "reverse electrolysis"; even done
with care, this will inevitably remove some of the underlying keywork. (The
late Ted Planas used to tell a story of a saxophone which was completely
dissolved while an inattentive plater took a break!) The result may well be
that the "feel" of the keywork is permanently altered.

The best plan is probably to order any "custom" plating when ordering a new
instrument.