The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
  

  -----

Reverting a nickel plated grocery scale to brass

I am restoring a grocery scale that was manufactured in the early 1900's. Many of the "decorative" pieces are, I believe nickel plated (did they use "chrome" that long ago?). I want the finish to be brass and I believe many of these pieces are brass beneath the plating. Should I take the items to a shop that can remove the plating (nickel/chrome) as a first step and then if indeed they are brass, can this brass be polished to a high luster or am I still going to have to get them brass plated? Also there is one piece that appears to be pot metal - can pot metal be brass plated?

John Nichols
hobbyist - Clayton, California, United States
2004

---

You are correct that chrome plating was not used back then, so the scale is probably nickel plated. It is possible to strip the nickel, and leave the parts solid brass (if in fact they are brass). They can then be polished and lacquered, but whether you will like the look and the color of the cast brass can't be said. Pot metal can be brass plated with no particular difficulty, but getting it to match old cast brass under various lighting conditions probably won't work. If you want a match, it will probably be necessary to nickel and brass plate everything.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2004