Subject: Re: Refinishing clock brass

From: [email-masked] (Larry Smith)
Date: 2 Oct 1995 19:41:34 GMT

In article <[email-masked]>, [email-masked] (Mark Kinsler ) writes:
>  Or, if you're running an antique store, just spray the movements with 
>gold spray paint. 
 
   _____                                    .__    .__   ._._._.
  /  _  \ _____ ______________  ____   ____ |  |__ |  |__| | | |
 /  /_\  \\__  \\_  __ \_  __ \/ ___\ / ___\|  |  \|  |  \ | | |
/    |    \/ __ \|  | \/|  | \/ /_/  > /_/  >   Y  \   Y  \|\|\|
\____|__  (____  /__|   |__|  \___  /\___  /|___|  /___|  /_____
        \/     \/            /_____//_____/      \/     \/\/\/\/

There is a special place in hell reserved for people who spray-paint
the insides of clocks and music boxes!

-- 
Larry Smith - My opinions only.  Killfile [email-masked] & [email-masked]
The attempt to justify an evil deed has perhaps more pernicious consequences
than the evil deed itself. The justification of a past crime is the planting
and cultivation of future crimes. - Eric Hoffer  Digital Unix: 64 bit _now_.

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From: [email-masked] (Dion Hollenbeck)
Date: Mon, 2 Oct 1995 15:46:09 GMT

>>>>> "Russ" == Russ Kepler <[email-masked]> writes:

Russ> OK, If you're going to nickle plate something that was chrome
Russ> plated you'll have to strip the old chrome plate first.  That's
Russ> likely to be the nastiest part, typically involving a reverse
Russ> plating process. I've not had to do it but perhaps someone else
Russ> here could comment.  It could be that stripping the parts will
Russ> cost about as much as stripping and replating (or that once in
Russ> the plater's bath it's nothing to replate...)

Stripping chrome is probably the easiest thing you can do.  A couple
of minutes in full strength muriatic acid and it is gone.  Notice I
said "easy" not safe.  There will be a ton of gasoff in the process
and the rising gas bubbles will vaporize the acid and you will get a
mini-fog of acid in the air around the container.  On top of that, the
gas is hydrogen, so it is explosive as well.

dion

-- 
Dion Hollenbeck (619)597-7080x119       Email: [email-masked]
Senior Software Engineer     Vigra, Inc.  San Diego, California

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From: [email-masked] (Mark Kinsler )
Date: Wed, 4 Oct 1995 03:13:17 GMT

In article <[email-masked]>,
Larry Smith <[email-masked]> wrote:
>
>In article <[email-masked]>, 
>[email-masked] (Mark Kinsler ) writes:

Aarrgghh indeed.  But it happens, doesn't it?  Different sorts of people 
view machinery differently.  Ever see artwork made out of good gears welded 
together in what someone thought was a decorative pattern?  Or conversely, 
watches with fake gears visible through their dials?  As was said in a 
different venue entirely: They just don't get it.

                                     Mark Kinsler

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From: [email-masked] (Roger Mitchell)
Date: 4 Oct 1995 21:40:33 GMT

When I clean clock movements I use a mixture of ammonia and mineral spirits
followed by a bath in mineral spirits. Needless to say, to do a proper job,
you must completely dismantle the movement. After cleaning the movement
in the mineral spirits, you then need to take a toothpick soaked in 
mineral spirits and clean out all of the pivot holes with it. This is
also a good time to check the holes for ware and rebush them as necessary.
	
					Roger Mitchell
					VP and Master Mechanic
					Fort Collins Municipal Railway
					Amateur Radio N0MCR

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From: [email-masked] (Larry Smith)
Date: 5 Oct 1995 15:56:59 GMT

In article <[email-masked]>, [email-masked] (Mark Kinsler ) writes:

 >Aarrgghh indeed.  But it happens, doesn't it?

Tell me about it.  I'm trying to get the paint out of _two_
different music boxes right now.

 >Ever see artwork made out of good gears welded 

I'll go along with that for sure.