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Re: Replating Keys

Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2018-09-03 18:12

shmuelyosef wrote:

> If, for example, faced with a clarinet that has pitted nickel
> plate on the keys (like 70s LeBlancs), couldn't I just lightly
> sand them and polish out the scratches so the customer has nice
> touches again?
>

I'm not sure of the answer you'll get from modern repair people about keys with worn plating. But FWIW, when I was student in Philadelphia, Hans Moennig avoided selling plated-key clarinets and didn't like to work on them. The reason, as I understood it, was exactly what you suggest - that scratches and even light tool marks could be buffed out and the key surfaces brought back up to their original sheen if there was no plating involved. I think he considered plating to be a nuisance.

Unplated keys can be polished to a very attractive finish. I just don't know if the color contract between a buffed unplated key and the surrounding plated ones would be a serious cosmetic issue for some players. If that isn't an issue, I don't know why buffing and polishing the damaged areas wouldn't work well.

Karl

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