Cleaning Nickel Plating?

ScrapIron · 06-09-2008, 06:48 PM

I'm curious if anyone has used anything called "Stainless Steel Magic"
to clean and polish any of the nickel plated pieces.

I have a bottle of the stuff and it says its good for Chrome and Stainless steel
and alot of the gun sites i've checked out don't necessarily say what to use, but rather what NOT to use.

Railgun · 06-09-2008, 11:52 PM

Watch it. Those chrome and stainless polishes have some superfine abrasive in them. It brings up a lovely shine for sure but the black you see on your rag is the chrome or steel you just rubbed off. Nickel isn't as hard as chrome or stainless so while it'll shine up nicely it'll also wear away and after some number of polishings with these cleaners you'll find out what color the base metal is and what it looks like all shined up as well.

Once or twice won't kill it but I'd switch to a simple cleaner from that point on baring having to remove any stubborn corrosion stains.

If it's the Palmer's rough finish nickel plate then forget it. You'd need to wed sand the texture off first before you can polish it. Too much risk of sanding through in spots.

ScrapIron · 06-10-2008, 01:23 AM

what simple cleaner would you recomend?

kidneythief · 06-10-2008, 02:38 AM

It really depends on what your trying to clean off the nickle. I would suggest your everyday household cleaner. Windex or some Mr. Clean should get rid of most paint and dirt.

-Jake

Robertsr · 06-10-2008, 09:16 AM

Toothpaste.

I kid you not.

It does a heck of a job with a nickle plated finish. It doesn't have the level of abrasives that would be damaging, and it polishes like a dream.

Also leaves your marker smelling minty.

Heebs · 06-10-2008, 09:29 AM

^ I agree with Robertsr, I use it to clean the wifes ring, comes out SUPER shiny and smells nice too.

Listessa · 06-10-2008, 02:13 PM

Toothpaste (the white paste kind, not the gel stuff or the kind with little breath strips etc) in it works the best to shine things.

I've used rubbing alcohol and a soft cloth, or one of those silver jewlery cleaning cloths that is good for plating on some of my guns to get them clean as well as the toothpaste trick.

ScrapIron · 06-10-2008, 03:01 PM

Very cool, thanks for the toothpaste tip

Cunha · 06-10-2008, 03:06 PM

Toothpaste is what PPS always recommends.

06-09-2008, 06:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
ScrapIron Cobra Paintball Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Central Iowa	Cleaning Nickel Plating? I'm curious if anyone has used anything called "Stainless Steel Magic" to clean and polish any of the nickel plated pieces. I have a bottle of the stuff and it says its good for Chrome and Stainless steel and alot of the gun sites i've checked out don't necessarily say what to use, but rather what NOT to use. __________________ Shoot first, check armband tape later. Proud to play Lucky 7 and Fledgling scenario games. member #190 of LPPC, Cobra Paintball Fanatic & Purple Foot Indian Tribe My Feedback

06-09-2008, 11:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
Railgun MCB Member Join Date: Oct 2006	Watch it. Those chrome and stainless polishes have some superfine abrasive in them. It brings up a lovely shine for sure but the black you see on your rag is the chrome or steel you just rubbed off. Nickel isn't as hard as chrome or stainless so while it'll shine up nicely it'll also wear away and after some number of polishings with these cleaners you'll find out what color the base metal is and what it looks like all shined up as well. Once or twice won't kill it but I'd switch to a simple cleaner from that point on baring having to remove any stubborn corrosion stains. If it's the Palmer's rough finish nickel plate then forget it. You'd need to wed sand the texture off first before you can polish it. Too much risk of sanding through in spots. __________________ Model airplanes are cool too!

06-10-2008, 01:23 AM	#3 (permalink)
ScrapIron Cobra Paintball Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Central Iowa	what simple cleaner would you recomend? __________________ Shoot first, check armband tape later. Proud to play Lucky 7 and Fledgling scenario games. member #190 of LPPC, Cobra Paintball Fanatic & Purple Foot Indian Tribe My Feedback

06-10-2008, 02:38 AM	#4 (permalink)
kidneythief Lord humungus the Mod Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Home Finally!!!	It really depends on what your trying to clean off the nickle. I would suggest your everyday household cleaner. Windex or some Mr. Clean should get rid of most paint and dirt. -Jake __________________ "I wish simply to be a decent person, yet I will always fear the retards" -Brian Hindt(geech) MCB Moderator Kidney Machine

06-10-2008, 09:16 AM	#5 (permalink)
Robertsr Ultimate Battle Monkey Z Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Waynesboro, VA	Toothpaste. I kid you not. It does a heck of a job with a nickle plated finish. It doesn't have the level of abrasives that would be damaging, and it polishes like a dream. Also leaves your marker smelling minty. __________________ Geriatrically Assured Destruction

06-10-2008, 09:29 AM	#6 (permalink)
Heebs Go Cardinals! Join Date: Feb 2007	^ I agree with Robertsr, I use it to clean the wifes ring, comes out SUPER shiny and smells nice too. __________________ Heebs Feedback WWJD? Sell to Heebs. WTB: Pulse Loaders (2) functional but condition doesn't matter so much.

06-10-2008, 02:13 PM	#7 (permalink)
Listessa Stitching through Winter Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Fairbanks, AK	Toothpaste (the white paste kind, not the gel stuff or the kind with little breath strips etc) in it works the best to shine things. I've used rubbing alcohol and a soft cloth, or one of those silver jewlery cleaning cloths that is good for plating on some of my guns to get them clean as well as the toothpaste trick. __________________ The correct question is, "Why don't I need another gun?" How strange to see a lagomorph of such bravery. Loyal Order of the Water Buffalo- Don't Ask Us- We Will Tell! Facilis est Descensus Averni. <--Click to descend to my feedback. NO'MAAM #2"National Organization Members Against AGG Metrosexuals" Rouge Cell #3

06-10-2008, 03:01 PM	#8 (permalink)
ScrapIron Cobra Paintball Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Central Iowa	Very cool, thanks for the toothpaste tip __________________ Shoot first, check armband tape later. Proud to play Lucky 7 and Fledgling scenario games. member #190 of LPPC, Cobra Paintball Fanatic & Purple Foot Indian Tribe My Feedback

06-10-2008, 03:06 PM	#9 (permalink)
Cunha MCB Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Monterey, CA	Toothpaste is what PPS always recommends.

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