Klarinet Archive - Posting 000311.txt from 1996/05

From: Steve Prescott <mipresc@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Nickel plating
Date: Tue, 14 May 1996 10:19:10 -0400

Some general information on metals used in band instruments:

Most nickel bodies and keys are made up of 60% copper, 15% nickel and 25% zinc.
Yamaha nickel (this info isn't very current) 45% copper, 50% nickel and 5% zinc.

The high content of zinc (25%) in most nickel keys make them corrosive (or
more corrosive) than the Yamaha nickel. Other manufacturers may be using
the Yamaha ratio of Cu, Ni, and Zn; I'm not sure. I'm not even sure if
Yamaha uses this ratio anymore.

Silver used in silver plating is 99.9% pure

As far as I know, silver is a softer metal than nickel and would be subject
to wear, more so than the nickel. Of course with nickel having 25% Zn I
can understand why some people wear through it quickly.

Many companies use a "bright" nickel plate over the rather inferior nickel
keys. I'm not sure of the breakdown of this plating. It could be pure
nickel. Whatever it is it is not as corrosive as the nickel key with 25%
zinc.

Steve.

Steve Prescott
Instrument Rep.Tech./ Clarinetist
Indiana State University
mipresc@-----.edu