Summary for nickel plating black beauty Discussion
Nickel plating on a 1920s Ludwig Black Beauty snare drum is discussed as a fairly routine re-plating job, but the key concern is whether the original engraving can be preserved. The thread notes that one reader believed the engraving could not be saved, while the owner of a large drum manufacturing shop and the site editor both felt it should be possible to save it. The question comes from a drum owner seeking advice on restoring a vintage Ludwig snare, and the discussion centers on balancing cosmetic restoration with preserving historical detail. Overall, the exchange suggests the plating work itself is straightforward, but the engraving issue depends on the restorer’s skill and approach.
Quickstart: The re-plating is fairly routine, but the poster’s question includes whether the engraving can be saved. Although one reader thinks not, the owner of a large drum manufacturing shop as well as the editor of the website feel that saving the engraving is possible
RFQ: I own a 1920’s Ludwig snare drum that’s called a “Black Beauty” [adv: Ludwig black beauties on
eBay]. It has a brass shell which was then nickeled in black then engraved exposing the brass. All the hardware on this drum is in copper. A beautiful drum. My problem is someone removed the black nickel and what I have now is an engraved brass shell. Is there a way that I can have it electroplated in black nickel and not damage the engraving or cover it? Also, I was told that the prep, the buffing of the shell may remove some or all of the engraving. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Michael Guedes
– Monroe, New York, United States
2003
A. It is possible to replate the drum and to save the engraving at the same time!
Adrian Kirchler
AK drums – Olang, ITALY
2004
A. Hi Michael,
You could re-plate the drum, but you cannot save the engraving, per se. Preparing the shell would require buffing the metal shell to a high luster. This will give you the shine you want out of the finish. After plating the shell, you might contract John Aldridge of “Not So Modern Drummer” to engrave over the existing pattern. That is the best approach, next to leaving the drum in its original state.
Sincerely,
Curt
– Castle Rock, Colorado, USA
2005
This is a meeting place for camaraderie & sharing, not a free consultancy. So some readers don’t engage with anonymous posters.
A. …and I tell you it is possible (take a look at my website ak-drums.com under “restoration” ⇩)
Regards
Adrian Kirchler
– Olang, Italy
2005
Ed. update Dec. 2023: That website is still active although the ‘restoration’ page isn’t. Thankfully, the Internet Archive preserved a copy here 🙂
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Hi. I think Adrian is more correct than Curt. Plating is thin, even very heavy nickel plating is under 0.001″ thick, which is small compared to most engraving, and it’s possible to mask the engraving if necessary so it doesn’t get plated; it’s not necessary to buff to a high luster before nickel plating, but would be for perfect authenticity because it was necessary to buff in the 1920’s when Michael’s drum was built 🙂
Good luck, and Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
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