polishing pins of NOS tubes

Removing that corrosion is of far greater concern, glad you were able to get it sorted out! :-)

I hope by ’corroded’ you mean ’tarnished’.

If that is what you mean, a small strip of metal cleaning/polishing cloth should work, followed by a cleaning with 91%+ alcohol.

Loop the cloth around a pin, pinch it with tweezers, and clean with an up and down motion. When nice and shiny (untarnished looking), pour the alcohol into its bottle cap or a bowl to pin depth and stick the pins in it. let it sit in it a bit, then take it out, dip the tip of a paper towel in, and repeat the tweezer thing, finishing with a dry paper towel.

A Dremel tool I think is best, get a polishing attachment and you won't have to go through all of the above!

I've used a Dremel many times to clean up tube pins, it's not difficult at all as long as you pay attention to the direction of tool rotation and use it correctly. I use Maas metal polish on a small felt wheel as opposed to the brass brush though. Even if a pin gets bent a little, a quick tweak with a pair of needle nose pliers gets them back in order. Then clean the residue off with alcohol like the previous post describes. I also have used the exact same procedure described above with the exception of using very fine grit  wet or dry sandpaper strips cut 1/4" wide instead of a polishing cloth. Usually 1000 grit works fine. 

Don't worry about it, use the steel brush on the steel pins. If you come across copper or brass pins, use the corresponding brush. After brushing, wipe off the pins with an alcohol swab.

I've used Deoxit with great results.

If that is what you mean, a small strip of metal cleaning/polishing cloth should work, followed by a cleaning with 91%+ alcohol.

+1

If the tubes are small signal tubes, take care cleaning the pins if gold plated.

FYI, I remember reading a thread years ago on AA about the steel pins on small signal tubes. Someone posted saying, the pins are not actually made of steel. Darned, if I can remember what it is though.

The reason given for not being steel. Steel will expand when heated. Not good when the tube is made of glass.

EDIT:

Quick search on the Net.

The metal pins on small signal vacuum tubes, also known as lead-out wires, are typically made of a ferrous metal, and the seals through the glass are made of a copper alloy called dumet..

"Dumet" refers to a glass-to-metal sealing alloy, specifically a bimetal made of a nickel-iron core encased in an oxygen-free-high-conductivity (OFHC) copper sheath, used for creating vacuum-tight seals in applications like lamps, diodes, and capacitor slug leads.

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I’ll check the pins with a magnet...

I’d try Deoxit first. I think a Dremel variable speed cordless with the small felt wheels would be good . Personally I’d anchor the tube in a safe manner on a flat surface and use both hands resting on the same surface to avoid a woops . I’m fairly experienced with accuracy rifles and avoid using stainless brushes on stainless or regular steel barrels. I use a high quality brass brush. We have different solvents to use mainly to remove copper buildup and we need to be careful not to etch the barrel. Those solvents usually have a strong ammonia smell. I’ve often used a fine paste valve lapping compound for various metal related tasks like lapping aluminum and steel scope rings. A polish like that might help.  I’m getting off track for your sake but just wanted to share a general overview of stuff as not to get too carried away. I hope my abstract speech helps in your search. Regards, Mike B. 

what about the sockets the tubes were in? corrosion? loose?

Just put a small amount of gunpowder in the tube sockets and blow the crap out of 'em. Put the tubes in the dishwasher to clean the pins or cover them in peanut butter and let bugs eat it off.

Yeah, great technique to clean those nasty tube sockets.

I clean connectors with British Kontak, it's a military grade brew. I have never tried cleaning tube pins yet, though.

scotch brite pads for the pins; these tiny little bottle brushes for the sockets

Brass brushes are great, but take your time and be gentle.  Try some whitening toothpaste as your cleanser.

I don't have any experience with highly corroded pins, so I just insert the tube into the socket a few times.

Are you all cleaning your interconnect pins in this manner?