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williemac wrote:What can one do with a silverplate horn that is showing some wear? Is there a process to replate only portions? I must admit I'm showing my ignorance but I'm looking at used / worn instruments and I'm in the dark as to the process and cost of refinishing them.

I did read up on the re-lacquering steps for brass but wouldn't it be costly to do the same thing (full strip / replate0 with a silver finish?

Short answer: Yes, bare areas can be "spot-plated", but if they're wear areas, the plating won't last very long, as "spot plating" is very very thin.

Heck of an idea, Joe! Just the ticket for those "looks like hell but playes really nice" horns. A couple or three coats of clear VHT Genuine Nitrocellulose lacquer should keep the finish looking good for a very long time.

Go to

http://www.caswellplating.com/kits/plugnplate.htm

The silver-plating kit will run you 38.50 plus shipping. Practice on something else first, however, until you have the hang of it (but it's not at all difficult). When done well, depending on how worn it was to begin with, it will be difficult to tell it was replated, beside the fact it cost you a fraction of taking it to a plating service.

As bloke mentioned, it will be a thin layer, but you can apply it in layers, also, for a more durable application.

I bought a gently-used Willson F a while back and it had a spot on the bottom of the bottom bow where the plating was starting to wear. In the least, I'd hoped to halt the progression of wear, but at best, it's difficult to tell that the silver isn't all-original. And it took less than ten minutes from set-up to pack-up (including buffing).