My wife suggested using aluminum foil for cleaning a nickel plated revolver that was pitted and black with both black powder fouling and oxidation. Turns out it works quite well to remove the embedded black powder fouling and the oxidation. Here is a parts gun I bought for a couple of pieces. I can't get the broken cylinder pin out but it doesn't matter. This gun was soaked in transmission fluid in a sonic cleaner and rubbed down and was generally cleaned. Not a lot of effort though.
Before
After about 20 seconds of rubbing with aluminum foil thzt was balled up.
Before
After
Before
After
Before
After
I'm sure I'm not the first person to use this but it was a surprise to me. The method is used for cleanig the oxidation from chrome.
This website describes the process this way
http://www.slipperyrockgazette.net/index.cfm//pageId/1948
........since the aluminum foil is softer than steel, it will not scratch the surface.
As heat is generated by the friction of rubbing the aluminum foil on the chrome, a portion of the aluminum will also oxidize to produce aluminum oxide. Aluminum has a higher reduction potential (a tendency take on electrons and in the process reduce or break itself down) than the chrome, and will therefore leech oxygen atoms away from any rust on the chrome surface, which changes the chemical properties of the rust and breaks it down.
There apparently wasn't any shine left on this pistol. But I have used it on shiny nickel plating and the aluminum foil does not scratch the nickel. It does remove the fouling well and quickly. Once the fouling and oxidation is removed or at least reduced, any pitted surface will still be there and will be dark compared to the nickel finish. And any bare spots would oxidize again. I suppose further oxidation could be prevented by applying either a wax or clear coat.
Has anyone else used aluminum foil to clean up a fouled and oxidized nickel or chrome gun?
Before
After about 20 seconds of rubbing with aluminum foil thzt was balled up.
Before
After
Before
After
Before
After
I'm sure I'm not the first person to use this but it was a surprise to me. The method is used for cleanig the oxidation from chrome.
This website describes the process this way
http://www.slipperyrockgazette.net/index.cfm//pageId/1948
........since the aluminum foil is softer than steel, it will not scratch the surface.
As heat is generated by the friction of rubbing the aluminum foil on the chrome, a portion of the aluminum will also oxidize to produce aluminum oxide. Aluminum has a higher reduction potential (a tendency take on electrons and in the process reduce or break itself down) than the chrome, and will therefore leech oxygen atoms away from any rust on the chrome surface, which changes the chemical properties of the rust and breaks it down.
There apparently wasn't any shine left on this pistol. But I have used it on shiny nickel plating and the aluminum foil does not scratch the nickel. It does remove the fouling well and quickly. Once the fouling and oxidation is removed or at least reduced, any pitted surface will still be there and will be dark compared to the nickel finish. And any bare spots would oxidize again. I suppose further oxidation could be prevented by applying either a wax or clear coat.
Has anyone else used aluminum foil to clean up a fouled and oxidized nickel or chrome gun?