Steel wool - thoughts??

Ok - real basic question here.

Steel wool works a treat. I’ve seen lots of people post great looking images of nice shiny nickel plated Petromax style lanterns, but the one and only time I used it on something other than brass - a nickel plated Aladdin 1A hood - it ruined it. Stripped the nickel right off almost immediately (assuming it was nickel?).

I now dare not use steel wool on any of my nickel plated lanterns - Coleman, Petromax, Hipolito etc.

Am I a fool for letting one bad experience get to me?

 

Thought it would be OK but just with a very fine steel wool, grade 0000 or so.

 

I use it a lot without damaging anything. But I only use grade #000 and #0000.

Erik

 

I’m just going to have to go for it aren’t I!

 

I use 0000 steel wool often on nickel with verdigris. Only with lye or oven cleaner containing a lye product. Wear your safety gear as lye eats anything organic including your skin. Light pressure is all that's needed and you will feel the nickel get smooth when the verdigris is removed. A plastic bristle brush would achieve the same results I'm certain.

Here's my nickel cleaning kit and a couple easily found examples

 

Gunsmiths will use 0000 steel wool with oil to remove rust from blued metal (and a light touch) so i do not see why nickel would not stay where it should be. As with all these things I guess try it on a small area first.
Chris

 

Isn't using steel wool on oxidised nickel setting up a displacement reaction?
Steel (Iron) being more reactive than Nickel gets oxidised while Nickel Oxide is reduced back to metal? That should work using just water I should think.

 

I’ve used steel wool for years, but only the 0000 fine stuff. Don’t go “ape” with it! Even wool that fine can ruin your day real fast!

 

I use 0000 on most lanterns but stick to microfibre cloth if the nickel is thin.

 

Thanks all and great pics @Toby Garner - I’ve seen your lanterns a few times on FB. Time to start experimenting

 

On a cruddy nickel surface, i.e. a fount, I first wash it carefully with soap and warm to hot water. I then use 0000 steel wool that’s been dipped into Mothers and go over the surface very lightly to take any raised crud off. Then it’s a Mother’s clean, with a clean cotton rag, and a final polish.
Steel wool 0000 grade is still an abrasive so gently does it.
Cheers
Pete

 

A simple but important tip there @AussiePete - Using the 0000 lightly to remove the crud before a final rag polish. I think you can easily over polish around the crud if trying to remove using a rag.

Like I said - sounds so simple, but there’s definitely an art to it which only comes from experience! The small things can make big differences (or sometimes big mistakes!).

Such a fun hobby it is