Originally posted by MLKWoodWorking
<br />We have some plating done locally on the restoration hardware we sell. We do rack and barrel plating in mostly nickel. We have some items that have been on a display board for 20 years and the plating is not pitting just tarnishing with time and sunlight. Nickel is a pretty durable alloy and is also available in a dark almost polished gun metal look. That might be an option, although it does not sound as expensice as rhodium. The other coment that I must make is that as this is not a widespread problem, I would have to say that a majority of it is most likely human chemical related. Everyone's hands have natural oils and varing degrees of Ph and acids. This may play a large role in the pitting when you get just the right combination of Ph, acid and oils which would explain why is is not a common occurance.
Just my 2 cents so take it for what it is worth.
Mike
Mike, that's an opinion worth quite a bit. I have considered this possiblity a LOT, but I have personally ruled it out as a *likely* culprit for a couple of reasons.
1) I wear a lot of sterling (mostly a couple rings) and I do not tarnish it any faster than you would expect. Also, I have a Citizen watch that I have worn for many years that only has an "expected" amount of wear. Ie, nothing else metal I use seems to corrode.
2) I do not have even the least of these problems with -----any------ kit from Berea (the only other supplier I use). Not one pit I have found in their Ti gold or platinum. And I use both. I also use a few satin nickel, black titanium, black chrome, and standard chrome. None of which do I corrode. (yes, btw, I have and use a LOT of my own work....I just can't help myself[
]).
So, my conclusion is that
even if my "hand acid" is partly to blame, the kits ought to withstand that easily since so many other "lesser" platings withstand it, and that I also think that I am no more "caustic" than the average person.
Now if you will excuse me from the forum, I have a bowl of tabasco sauce with a little chili in it that I need to finish. [8D]