How do you age a nickel cover?
- Thread starter JB6464
- Start date
MultiCaster
New member
Re: How do you age a nickel cover?
To dull the finish, use medium steel wool or a scouring pad to rub from side to side. Maintain that pattern till desired look is reached.
For the string wear pattern, wet a piece of yarn with oven cleaner. (not dripping wet just saturated) lay it straight from top to bottom of the pickup in six lines matching the string spacing to simulate where the strings have slapped it over the years. Let that sit for ten minutes. Do not smear or let it run into the screw poles if it is already on a pickup.
You could even tape off the area and brush the cleaner on in the exposed lines. Be sure to rinse the oven cleaner away very well, it is corrosive. Give us a picture when done.
To dull the finish, use medium steel wool or a scouring pad to rub from side to side. Maintain that pattern till desired look is reached.
For the string wear pattern, wet a piece of yarn with oven cleaner. (not dripping wet just saturated) lay it straight from top to bottom of the pickup in six lines matching the string spacing to simulate where the strings have slapped it over the years. Let that sit for ten minutes. Do not smear or let it run into the screw poles if it is already on a pickup.
You could even tape off the area and brush the cleaner on in the exposed lines. Be sure to rinse the oven cleaner away very well, it is corrosive. Give us a picture when done.
PoorMan
MoneyForNothingologist
Re: How do you age a nickel cover?
I don't think so. RS sells some pretty nice ones at a decent price, but they are 50mm as opposed to Duncans 49.2mm so it depends on the pickup you are using.
http://www.rsguitarworks.net/rsstore/product_info.php?cPath=25_54&products_id=128
I don't think so. RS sells some pretty nice ones at a decent price, but they are 50mm as opposed to Duncans 49.2mm so it depends on the pickup you are using.
http://www.rsguitarworks.net/rsstore/product_info.php?cPath=25_54&products_id=128
PoorMan
MoneyForNothingologist
Re: How do you age a nickel cover?
Thanks.
Make sure to work outside in a well ventilated area and wear some kind of gloves.
I put a little etchant solution on a paper towel, rubbed it on the surface to be aged (you have to rub it or it will pool up and look terrible), and immediately wiped it off. It took a couple applications to get it the way I want. If you try this method, you will probably end up with some strange looking black wipe marks--but not to worry. You can remove them by polishing it with some Brasso (which doesn't polish it back to a full-shine, it just removes the black marks.)
Hope this helps.
Thanks.
Make sure to work outside in a well ventilated area and wear some kind of gloves.
I put a little etchant solution on a paper towel, rubbed it on the surface to be aged (you have to rub it or it will pool up and look terrible), and immediately wiped it off. It took a couple applications to get it the way I want. If you try this method, you will probably end up with some strange looking black wipe marks--but not to worry. You can remove them by polishing it with some Brasso (which doesn't polish it back to a full-shine, it just removes the black marks.)
Hope this helps.
pzaxtl
Gibletsologist
Re: How do you age a nickel cover?
I don't think "RS" was referencing Radio Shack but RS Guitar Works. I could be wrong, but i've never seen pickup covers at Radio Shack.
http://www.rsguitarworks.net/rsstore/
I don't think "RS" was referencing Radio Shack but RS Guitar Works. I could be wrong, but i've never seen pickup covers at Radio Shack.
http://www.rsguitarworks.net/rsstore/
PoorMan
MoneyForNothingologist
Re: How do you age a nickel cover?
I don't dip it. It's too hard to control and and can burn down to the copper substrate (particularly around the polepiece holes). I wipe the etchant on and quickly wipe it off.
But pitting and rust won't happen with this method.
I don't dip it. It's too hard to control and and can burn down to the copper substrate (particularly around the polepiece holes). I wipe the etchant on and quickly wipe it off.
But pitting and rust won't happen with this method.
PoorMan
MoneyForNothingologist
Re: How do you age a nickel cover?
I think he meant get the etchant to make his own aged covers at Radio Shack.
Unfortunately Radio Shack doesn't carry PCB etchant anymore, so he'll have to get it elsewhere.
I think he meant get the etchant to make his own aged covers at Radio Shack.
Unfortunately Radio Shack doesn't carry PCB etchant anymore, so he'll have to get it elsewhere.
Zhangliqun
Questionologist
Re: How do you age a nickel cover?
From what I understand, the RS ones are 49.2. I have a set at home, will double-check...
From what I understand, the RS ones are 49.2. I have a set at home, will double-check...
PoorMan
MoneyForNothingologist
Last edited:
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: How do you age a nickel cover?
It's already been covered but Poorman is dead on ferric chloride is the key...works every time!
Plus, once you knock the shine down with the chemical it will start to show wear on it's own real quickly...
It's already been covered but Poorman is dead on ferric chloride is the key...works every time!
Plus, once you knock the shine down with the chemical it will start to show wear on it's own real quickly...
PoorMan
MoneyForNothingologist
Re: How do you age a nickel cover?
Exactly! The final results come after some play time. This just speeds the process along.
Exactly! The final results come after some play time. This just speeds the process along.
super rad stuff
Skaforlifeologist
Re: How do you age a nickel cover?
then you can have the look you want right now... in a few years ;D
then you can have the look you want right now... in a few years ;D
JB6464
New member
Re: How do you age a nickel cover?
New update ! I found some etching from autozone. It is made by Eagle 1 and it ages the nickel hardware real nice. Just spray it on a wash cloth and rub it on the covers and BAM! Repeat as much as needed to get that dull aged look. I did'nt have to take the covers off and you can do it with it wired up. Just remove the pu bezzell and make sure you cover the rest of the guitar up and start rubbing it on. (Eagle 1 etching mag cleaner)make sure you wear gloves because its potant,LOL.l
New update ! I found some etching from autozone. It is made by Eagle 1 and it ages the nickel hardware real nice. Just spray it on a wash cloth and rub it on the covers and BAM! Repeat as much as needed to get that dull aged look. I did'nt have to take the covers off and you can do it with it wired up. Just remove the pu bezzell and make sure you cover the rest of the guitar up and start rubbing it on. (Eagle 1 etching mag cleaner)make sure you wear gloves because its potant,LOL.l
PoorMan
MoneyForNothingologist
