This message is for Damon Atchison who inquired about re-plating the
pedals on his piano.

First of all, cost:  Hit the Yellow Pages and call some platers to find
out what their minimum charge is.  The last time I had something plated,
the minimum was around $50, but that was about eight years ago and the
minimum has most definitely gone up since then.  Also the pedals most
likely will have to be stripped and re-polished before plating, so ask
them about that cost. too.

Take your parts to a plating shop and talk to the guys there, even ask
for the 25-cent tour so you can learn something about the process.  They
may even refer you to another shop that would be more helpful with your
project.

What kind of plating?  Since Robbie suggested electroless zinc, I'll
have to respond to that first.

Electroless zinc: This is a fine _protective_ finish by itself and for
other finishes, like paint, but it does not wear well.  Zinc is just too
soft and will wear off rapidly.  So you will be back where you started
before you know it.

Nickel Plate: If the pedals are to be electro-plated, the base metal
must be polished to the same type of finish you want to end up with,
i.e., shiny!  The plater will then plate on a "flash" coating of copper
to create a better bonding interface for the nickel.  Then the nickel is
plated onto the copper to a specified thickness, usually only less than
one mil thick.  However, you can specify a greater thickness if you want
-- it's just a matter of leaving the piece in the plating bath longer.
Ask the plater what he would suggest for your application.

Electroless Nickel: Usually the stripping step is not necessary for this
process. if the margins between the base metal and the original plating
are polished down and "feathered out" so that there are no areas where
the plating has lifted.  The scratches should be polished out as well.
so that they will not show through the plating.

The process is simple, the parts are first cleaned and de-greased in a
caustic solution, rinsed, and then hung in a boiling bath of a specially
formulated nickel chloride plus other chemicals and water.  The nickel
comes out of solution and is deposited on the metal parts.  This type of
plating gives a much harder surface than electro-plated nickel, so from
that standpoint, may be a very desirable feature.  The plated parts come
out of the bath looking somewhat frosty, but can be brought up to a very
nice polish on the buffing wheel.

So that's my 2 cents;  I'd vote for electroless nickel, but finding out
what the plater can do for you will be the real determining factor.  A
set of replacement pedals may be cheaper if you can find them, so see if
you can lay your hands on some catalogs from the various piano parts
suppliers out there.  Perhaps someone else knows of a source of
universal pedals that may be a drop-in fit.

Dennis Mead