polishing surface scrathes on a nickel firearm

[growr]

Can fine surface scratches on a nickel plated firearm be cleaned up like we do on a stainless firearm?
If so, what products are should be used ? Or NOT used?

I am looking at a 39-2 nickel for a fellow member so he is relying on MY eyes and not the camera...Nickled firearms are tricky to photograph well in a store setting.

Any ides fellow members?

Randy

 

[Fishinfool]

I have had luck in the past gently polishing with a rag and Simichrome or Mothers Mag Wheel Polish. Either will greatly reduce those hairline scratches that nickel seems to acquire. Nickel is relatively soft, and I would not try buffing it with a power tool.

Larry

 

[stansdds]

I believe Fishinfool has given some very good advice. Very fine, hairline scratches can be lightly polished using fine metal polish. You do not want to use anything that is highly abrasive like wet-or-dry sandpaper. Flitz, Simichrome, or Mothers Mag Wheel polishes are good to use. No power tools! Just a soft cloth and gently hand polish.

 

[chief38]

Polishing a Nickeled gun with Flitz will lighten up some of the light scratch marks, but caution must be taken not to try and make the gun look new or you will go too far. DO NOT use a Dremel, Buffer, or any power equipment in this process - you risk ruining the finish. IMHO doing this should be a one shot deal - not a regular routine! The longer you polish the shinier the finish will be - check results often so you don't go too far. Remember, the shinier it winds up the more it will show new scratches and marks.

All you need is a tube of Flitz, an old 100% cotton T shirt and patience. I also suggest that if you have the knowledge and skill, that you disassemble the gun prior to polishing. This is to insure no polish remains inside after you are done. If you have never done a full disassembly before you could polish with the gun assembled, just be very careful not to get any polish in the cracks, crevices and opened parts. I'd at least recommend removing the Cylinder first and reinstalling the screw while polishing. this would at least cut down Yoke stress and keep polish out of Ejector Tunnel.

Go slow and check results often. Again - don't go too far by trying to make the gun look brand new - Nickel is not that thick.

 

[PawDawg]

I used Mothers Mag polish on a recently acquired 10-5 nickle plated snubbie and it made a huge difference in the appearance. The fine surface scratches, hazing and discoloration of the gun disappeared and it now shines. As others posted, go slow, use a soft cotton cloth to polish and wipe clean, using hands only.

 

[dant]

polish nickel

over the years we have used Mothers or 'Mas' fine polish,,,all the others have too much abrasives in them, and use a micro fiber clothe..............
many years ago we used to access to jewelers rouge, BUT he has passed on long ago........

 

[2152hq]

New electro-plated nickel (and gold and silver) surfaces are polished after they come out of the plating tanks as they are dull and uneven in color. Most have an uneven frosted appearance to them
The polishing is generally done by machine buffing though some small intricate parts can be done by hand easily enough.

It takes skill to do this just as it does to polish the surfaces in prep for the plating to begin with.

Light wispy scratches can be removed from plated surfaces just like they can be removed from painted surfaces or clear finishes on wood.
There's no secret to it,,you just have to remove the finish, what ever it happens to be (plating, paint, lacquer, ect) from around the scratch to the depth of the scratches so as to level the surface.
You thin out the finish in doing so and you don't have a lot to work with when dealing with most plating jobs.
So go easy on the polishing no matter the method and don't expect to be able to remove the deeper ones w/o going thru the plating all together.