Butler Finish Nickel
What is butler finish nickel and how is the finish applied?
Q. What is “butler finish nickel?” How does one apply this finish? –B.A.
A. The butler finish is a fine satin-like finish. The finish originally resulted from the regular cleaning and polishing of fine silverware. It was named the butler finish because a butler would polish the silver often and fine lines developed on the silver pieces. One way to produce the finish is to wet scratch the surface with a suitable wire brush. An easier way is to buff the surface using fine grit and greaseless buffing compound. The type of nickel bath is important. Bright nickel baths give a finish that is too glossy so a dull or semi-bright bath is used.
Since you have not previously used this process, I suspect you will have to do some experimentation with the conditions in order to get the most satisfactory results.
A second way of producing this finish is to hire a contract butler and have he/she polish the pieces for you!
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