14-in disk platters (for 2N2/256-BSCP)

[Robert Nansel]

I've acquired some scrap 14-in drive platters.  They're scuffed up  
(no real dings) and a touch corroded (more like stained), so I reckon  
I'll have to remove the oxide coating and recoat them.

Any ideas how to remove the oxide coating, short of sanding?  Should  
I recoat with oxide, or would nickel plating be better?  In the Olden  
Days I understand they just painted the oxide goop on, perhaps  
spinning the platters to smooth it out.

Also, the platters came as just bare disks, no spindles or hubs (or  
whatever; I'm pretty hazy what the mechanics of these large drives  
were).  Any suggestions about finding or improvising a spindle/hub  
for these puppies?

Unfortunately, the dimensions involved are a bit outside the capacity  
of my wee Taig lathe :)

I've been scavenging VCR drum heads, and the bearings in these are  
pretty high-class, so perhaps they might be a start.  I don't think  
the drum motor itself would have the grunt to turn a 14-in platter at  
the required speed, not without rewinding the stator and replacing  
the ferrite rotor magnets with Neodymium magnets.  The folks who  
rewind CD-ROM motors to power electric RC planes might have a few  
tricks I could use.

-Bobby