 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Benny
Date: 2000-11-28 00:27
Hi. The acid in my fingers is eating through the nickel-plated keys on my horn. I am going to have it replated sometime in the near future (three or four months). I wash my hands before I play and polish my clarinet thoroughly with a "silver puff". Is there anything else I can do to preserve the plating (it's driving me crazy!) before I have it replated? Any suggestions are appreciated! Thanks!
Benny
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Author: mw
Date: 2000-11-28 00:42
Benny, I appreciate your dilemma, my daughter seems to suffer as well. That said, I am not sure its YOUR fault, as much as a change in the maunfacturing standards, etc.
Be careful, with anytime cloth which is sold as a silver polish or cleaning cloth, sheet or whatever they call it. Why? Its likely to be ABRASIVE as are many silver polishes. Occasionally is probably OK, but often may result in wear to the silver just from the abrasive substances that *some* of these cloths have.
My daughter (& I) wipes down with a plain old cotton towel or cotton tee shirt.
If you wearing the keywork thatg means your practicing. AND, thats good! mw
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Author: drew
Date: 2000-11-28 00:45
Benny,
I had a similar problem with nickel plated keys. I found that silver plating was more resisitant to my body chemistry.
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Author: mw
Date: 2000-11-28 01:49
Yes, & you can have an instrument replated *either* way. I've had nickel silver keywork replated with silver. Worked wonderfully. Actually, not much difference in cost. mw
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Author: tb0b
Date: 2000-11-28 02:05
what does it look like when the plating is worn off?
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Author: Aaron
Date: 2000-11-28 05:04
I have the same problem with the plating wearing off because of the oils iin my skin. I have the problem in the high contact areas of the keys, for example the rings, the Ab/G# key, etc. If the plating is wearing off, or it hasn't yet and you want to keep it that way you may try what I have been using for a few years. Just coat the areas with clear nail polish! Coat it, let it dry, and then you have a barrier between you and the metal of the clarinet, and it has no real outward appearance or effect on the way the horn looks. Also you don't have to spend the money on all those fancy polishing cloths, just use an old sock or something.
You will have to re-allpy every so often, about every 1 or 2 months, re-aply with a light coat. It all depends on use and your personal chemistry.
So for those worn finishes, or if you want to protect that plating, just use clear nail polish. And as a word of advice, just geeet the cheap stuff at Dollar Geneeeral or Wal-Mart or something, nothinng fancy.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2000-11-28 14:28
Nickel reacts to some weird things. I once made wire manipulative puzzles and got them nickel plated. I stored them overnight in a wooden box that had been recently polished with polyurethane. The nickel took on a dull mat white coating overnight - difficult to remove.
Also, if you have the right electrolytes in your perspiration, and there are microscopic pores through the plating, an electrolytic action will set up between the base metal and the plating. This will make the plating lift.
Also, as I understand it, these HARD platings involve several layers, maybe of different metals, to make the plating durable. A manufacturer may have skimped on these processes. So why don't you take it to an electroplater and ask for their EXPERT opinion on the cause. Armed with that information perhaps you could get a refund or replacement.
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Author: Benny
Date: 2000-11-28 20:04
tb0b-
When the plating comes off, there is a copper-colored metal (it feels kind of sticky when you play).
Benny
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Author: Jodi
Date: 2000-11-29 02:00
I have gotten to the point on my R13 where I have worn through not only the nickel-silver, but the copper as well.
I consider these mile marks. The rings were worn during the first year of college, the G# key got worn through just in time for my junior recital and the C/F key just got worn down last year for the senior recital. I think it gives my clarinet character! (I wonder which will go this year?)
~Jodi
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