Some people try to skip this part but it is very important not to as it will ensure a good bond between the surface of the metal and the following plate. If you can see the water beading then you need to wash in detergent and water, rinse well and repeat the water break test again until it passes. If it has a good water film all over it with no beading then it can go to the pickle stage. Just dip in clean water and see if the item is covered with a water film or if it beads. Remember once you have started the cleaning process you must always wear gloves as even the grease off your fingers will cause the plating to blister at a later date! Once you have completed the first part of the cleaning process, I would now advise a water break test. This can be done by electro-cleaning, bead blasting or even buffing on a wire may be sufficient. The next step is to remove any traces of rust, paint or dirt. This can be done with a solvent type degreaser or a hot alkaline degreaser such as our GP1 alkaline cleaner. It is vital that cleaning is carried out carefully and that the items to be plated are ultra clean. Metal Range Ideal Zinc 15°c - 40°c 25°c - 30°c Copper 15°c - 50°c 25°c - 40°c Nickel 30°c - 50°c 30°c - 40°c Rep Chrome 30°c - 50°c 30°c - 40°c Brass 20°c - 40°c 25°c - 35°c Cobalt 30°c - 50°c 35°c - 45°cĬleaning (Copy/past from Gateros Plating Home Page) After seeing one or two customers of late with contamination problems (most of which we have been able to solve with having to replace the electrolyte) I want to stress again just how important cleaning is to both good quality plating and to ensure that the electrolyte is kept in prime condition. Once up to temperature the process of plating will keep the tank warm or if continuous plating is done then it may be a case of cooling the tank if it gets too hot! Temperature ranges for our plating electrolytes. 3) Combined heat and filtration systems are also used. 2) Heated air agitation is sometimes used in very large tanks. For larger tanks 1) Thermostatic tank heaters are the best method for larger tanks. Remember to give it several hours from cold to get to the correct temperature. 4) Thermostatic tank heaters are the easiest method as you can preset a temperature and leave it to warm up. 3) Place the tank on a heat mat normally for lower plating temperatures but will still raise the temperature. 2) Fill a plastic bottle with near boiling water and place inside the tank taking care not to overflow the tank. Easy ways to heat the tanks are as follows: For small tanks 1) simply place them in a bowl of boiling water and wait for them to warm up. All plating electrolytes will benifit from tank heating of some form. The Chemicals : Replica chrome 5 ltr 4 litres distilled water 1 kg nickel sulphate 125 g cobalt sulphate 220 g nickel chloride 160 g boric acid 230 ml nickel brightener Copper 5 ltr 4 litres distilled water 560ml of 36% sulphuric acid 900g copper sulphate 100 g sodium chloride 50ml cupracid ultra make up 3ml cupracid part A 3ml curpacid part B Nickel strike 5 ltr 4 litres distilled water 380 g nickel sulphate 380 g sodium sulphate 115 g ammonium chloride Heating When the ambient temerature drops and the plating tanks are unheated then it is time to consider some form of tank heating. It is really important to use all the safety equipment recommended.! Use goggles,and proper gloves. See Micro-Mark #83248 Copper Plating Kit for details.I have no pictures from the mixing. (Note: to plate die cast or pot metal parts, you must first apply a base of copper to prevent corrosion. Also repairs small damaged areas of existing plating, like a small scratch in an automobile bumper. #83083 Copy Chrome TM Kit is ideal for chrome plating small parts made of steel, copper, bronze, brass and tin. See Micro-Mark #83248 Copper Plating Kit for details.) Scroll down for more info plating solution, clip leads, plating wand and instructions. Kit includes 120v AC power supply with low voltage output, 16 oz. You'll watch in amazement as a gleaming new finish appears before your eyes. Dip the wand into the plating solution, then swab it onto your workpiece. Plug N' Plate is safe and easy to use: just clip one power supply output lead to your workpiece and the other to the plating wand. Plug N' Plate, a new concept in plating small metal parts, is ideal for vintage vehicle restorers, antique collectors and dealers, model builders, gun smiths, clock rebuilders, jewelers, prototype work and plating repair. Electroplate Small Metal Parts at Home with the Plug N' Plate TM System
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