Electroplating Guide - Lacy West Jewellery Tools and Supplies

Suppliers to the Jewellery Trade

Technical Information Sheet
Electroplating Guide

Quick Reference Electroplating Guide
Gold Plating
Rhodium Plating
Nickel Plating
Silver Plating
Electrocleaning and Electrostripping

Quick Reference Electroplating Guide

Metals	Temperature	Voltage	Time	Anode (+)
GOLD	140ºF	6V	30 sec	stainless steel or 24K gold
RHODIUM	80 - 100ºF	4V	20 - 30 sec	stainless steel or platinum
COPPER	100ºF	6V	30 + sec	copper
NICKEL	70ºF	2V	3 - 4 min	nickel
SILVER	70ºF	2V	30 + sec	stainless steel or silver
ELECTROCLEANER	180ºF	10V	60 sec	stainless steel

Note: Most prepared electroplating solutions provide recommended temperature, voltage, and time on the container - use the values provided by the manufacturer when available. For bath plating, use the highest voltage that will accomplish the plating task, but do not turn the voltage high enough to create bubbles within the plating bath.

Gold Plating

1. For articles made of karat gold, gold-filled, rolled-gold plate, nickel, copper, and brass.

Preparation

Buff and polish item to be plated.
Steam clean and boil out.
Rinse.
Electroclean.
Rinse again.

Plate

Gold plate.

Completion

Rinse.
Soda rub.
Rinse again.
Alcohol dip.

2. For articles made of white metals or contaminated with soft solder - including most costume jewellery.

Preparation- as above.
Plate

Copper plate (an underplate that prepares the item for receiving gold plate).
Rinse.
Gold plate.

Completion - as above.

Rhodium Plating

1. On articles made of karat gold and platinum

Preparation

Buff and polish item to be plated.
Steam clean and boil out.
Rinse.
Electroclean (In rhodium plating use 14K or platinum holding wire instead of copper.)
Rinse again.

Plate

Rhodium plate.

Completion

Rinse.
Alcohol Dip.

2. On articles of silver, palladium, gold-filled, rolled-gold, white metal, or contaminated with soft solder - including most costume jewellery.

Preparation- as above.
Plate

Gold plate (flash underplate) 10-15 seconds to prepare item for receiving rhodium plate.
Rinse.
Rhodium plate.

Completion - as above.

Nickel Plating

Nickel is used primarily as a base coating for rhodium plating. Nickel baths are tempermental and sometimes difficult to maintain.

Procedure

Plating solution at room temperature.

Immerse nickel anode connected to positive lead wire.

Attach negative lead wire alligator clamp to handling wire on item to be plated.

Dial 2V and turn switch to "On Position".

Immerse article 3-4 minutes or until completely covered with nickel.

If bubbles appear in solution or near article, reduce the voltage.

Silver Plating
Bowls and holloware can be plated on the inside by filling bowls with solution and suspending silver anode inside. Negative plating lead wire is attached to item being plated. Positive lead wire is attached to anode.

Procedure

Plating solution at room temperature.

Immerse silver anode connected to positive lead wire.

Attach negative lead wire alligator clamp to handling wire on item to be plated.

Dial 2V and turn switch to "On Position".

Immerse article 30 seconds or until completely covered with silver. Article will usually emerge with a dull milky colour.

Brighten colour by buffing with a bristle brush.

Electrocleaning
Useful for cleaning castings and articles to be plated. The electrocleaner solution removes grease, fingerprints, polishing compounds, etc. Pour into glass container, heat to 180ºF, connect stainless steel anode (+) and make the articles to be electrocleaned the cathode (-).

Electrostripping
When utilized with reverse current, the electrostripper solution provides a superior reaction on gold jewellery to produce a clean, bright and polished surface. Pour into a stainless steel container and heat to 180ºF, reverse the polarity used in plating, by making the gold article to be stripped the anode (+) and the steel container the cathode (-). Strip the article using 1/2 to 1 amp per aquare inch for 20-30 seconds. Then wash thoroughly.

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