Letter 059

Nickel plating of antique marine hardware

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I am building a new "Classic Style" boat. I wish to have the interior hardware and fittings have an antique "nickel plated" look. External and structural hardware will be stainless steel. Interior hardware will be brass which is a maintenance headache therefore needing a protective plated finish.   Two platers with whom I have spoken, tell me that nickel plating will yellow very quickly and is not a decorative finish.   What is the dull chrome looking finish that is seen on brass items from the 1920's? Is it nickel or a type of chrome? How can it be achieved a new brass items?   Any advice or comment will be greatly appreciated. 

Paul Bremer

I can't say for sure what the 1920's finish you are thinking of is, but it certainly could be nickel, which was commonly applied in those days. True, nickel tarnishes, turning yellowish--but only slightly yellowish. It is certainly a decorative finish, very "in" again, and maybe exactly what you are looking for.

Ted Mooney, P.E.  finishing.com Brick, NJ

we are currently fabricating a considerable number of pieces for a bathroom and residence in Manhattan, all stainless, and all to be antique nickel plated. While I have seen the finish a number of times, I am still wondering what the process is exactly and why it rusts (as opposed to copper dipped nickel which will last for half a century).

kurt l [last name deleted for privacy due to age of posting]
Brooklyn NY

You have me at a disadvantage here because I haven't seen what you are talking about. I'm a little confused about whether the rusting you mention is a beneficial part of the antiquing process you are seeking or if you are looking for a process that won't rust.

Since we're on a different wavelength I'm going to have to guess what you're talking about, which risks the possibility of just causing further confusion, but . . .

The fact is, copper does not delay rust more effectively than nickel. Look at automobiles from the fifties and sixties, whose chrome bumpers were copper-nickel-chrome plated, and which rusted very quickly anyway. Contrast them to today's chrome bumpers (mostly used on pickup trucks and SUVs) which are usually nickel-chrome plated and contain no copper at all and can remain rust-free many times longer than the older stuff. Copper doesn't hurt, but it doesn't help the corrosion resistance.

Again, I don't know what "antique nickel" is supposed to look like, but I'll guess you're talking about some blackening process, perhaps relieved in places like some embossed high school rings? Drop us a picture of it if you get a chance.

Even stainless steel--some grades at least--can rust. Brass cannot rust because it contains no iron.

Ted Mooney, P.E. 
finishing.com
Brick, NJ

Thanks for answering the question... You put the pieces together well, thank you.

kurt l [last name deleted for privacy due to age of posting]
Brooklyn NY

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