Best way to clean up ID plate

[bimmrr]

Another question for the group - what is best way to polish/clean TC I.D. plate without messing up the actual info stamped on it ?

[Steve Simmons]

Probably a dremel with a polishing attachment and some metal polish. On some old machinery plates where I wanted to retain the original fill paint, I've used a piece of VERY fine emory cloth on a flat surface, then placed the plate face down and lightly rubbed it on the cloth. That polishes up the metal without touching the paint. Then I clear coat the plate so I'll never have to do that again.

[Duncan M]

Of course they were nickel plated originally. This one retains the original plating and black paint after 70 years of ownership. No longer shiney. Been wiped with a damp rag a few times. On close inspection with magnification, it actually looks like evidence of flash copper coating on the brass, under the nickel. FTFU says it is just plain old flash nickel.

https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/095cf0 ... 2881965682

[Rob Reilly]

Turtle Wax Polishing Compound and ultra-fine 000 steel wool brought mine from this:

256573085743879927.jpg (98.41 KiB) Viewed 736 times

to this: