Electroplate silver onto brass

[nyulpista]

I wonder if anyone knows a hobbyist chemist who could electroplate silver on brass. I have an electronics project that has a small contact roller machined from brass, about the size of a penny. It would need to be silver plated for good electrical RF contact, along with a 3/16" 5" long brass rod. I looked at the local companies in South-West Ontario -small and large- and they would not or cannot do it. Youtube describes various dubious or outright dangerous processes and chemicals. I am accident-prone when it comes to mixing chemicals, so I would rather pay someone who knows through his/her experiments how to do it. Looking for some advice or a willing fellow hobbyist who could do it. Thanks for reading my post.

 

[Tom O]

Could you use stack a few Pennie’s to make a copper one instead of silver or maybe a gold plating.

 

[Canadium]

Interesting problem! I am currently experimenting with nickel electroplating a process which I think would be nearly identical except for the electrolyte and the material being plated. As with most things it seems to me a bit trickier to get a top notch result than one might think. With silver plating I believe the electrolyte has a cyanide component which is definitely a hazardous chemical and would require appropriate precautions.

If it were my project I would still go the DIY route as silver plating electrolyte is readily available ready made for the jewellery trade. But then I have a degree in sciences and have experience playing around with exotic chemicals.

 

[pdentrem]

I bought a Caswell kit to do nickel. They sell quite a number of different metal plating kits.

Plug N' Plate Silver Kit - Caswell Canada

The great new way to brush plate small parts.Ideal for repairing antiques with wear damage.

caswellcanada.ca

 

[darrin1200]

I wonder if anyone knows a hobbyist chemist who could electroplate silver on brass. I have an electronics project that has a small contact roller machined from brass, about the size of a penny. It would need to be silver plated for good electrical RF contact, along with a 3/16" 5" long brass rod. I looked at the local companies in South-West Ontario -small and large- and they would not or cannot do it. Youtube describes various dubious or outright dangerous processes and chemicals. I am accident-prone when it comes to mixing chemicals, so I would rather pay someone who knows through his/her experiments how to do it. Looking for some advice or a willing fellow hobbyist who could do it. Thanks for reading my post.

I’m not sure where you are located, but as mentioned by canadium, try a local jewellery maker. They may do it, or will point you to someone in the area that can. There are a few techniques that hobbiest jewellers use for small projects.
(See pdentrem’s post above)

 

[Ian Moss]

Silver is not that expensive. Could you machine a new disk totally from silver?

 

[Canadium]

Silver is not that expensive. Could you machine a new disk totally from silver?

Since this is a "roller" it implies there will be some wear so a thin silver coating could potentially get worn off quickly? A plus one for machining the whole disk from silver as that would avoid said problem.

 

[Mike R]

Sounds like "silvering" is what you want to do, and not electroplating. Example of a commercial kit for silvering:
https://timesavers.com/c-325532-che...ng-cleaning-polishing-silvering-products.html
and a quite thorough write up provided by our very own Gov. of Canada on "silvering":
https://www.canada.ca/en/conservati...stitute-notes/plate-silver-copper-alloys.html

 

[pdentrem]

Here is a thought, find a pre 1968 Canadian coin. 80% AG and 20% CU.
Pierre

 

[pdentrem]

Just to add which pre 1968 coins to use.
Look for dime, quarter, half dollar, and dollar coins are what you can use. The nickel and penny are 100% NI and 100% CU at the time.
Pierre

 

[Junque]

This site's graphics are a blast from the past, but it's a treasure trove of info on metal finishing of all kinds: https://www.finishing.com/index.shtml

 

[Canadium]

Just to add which pre 1968 coins to use.
Look for dime, quarter, half dollar, and dollar coins are what you can use. The nickel and penny are 100% NI and 100% CU at the time.
Pierre

Great idea if you can find any of these old coins! Since their metallic content is probably now worth way more than their face value I would have thought people would have taken them out of circulation long ago. Maybe a coin dealer or maybe if you have a stash of old coins? Otherwise you can also buy a one ounce pure silver wafer from a Canadian bank like TD Bank for going market price plus some handling fees.

 

[pdentrem]

You still find them from time to time. Locally I see one coin about every 3 months.

Silver is a little tricky to work with. Very similar to copper, so it needs lubricant and grabby when turned on the lathe.

 

[Chris Cramer]

I bought a Caswell kit to do nickel. They sell quite a number of different metal plating kits.

Plug N' Plate Silver Kit - Caswell Canada

The great new way to brush plate small parts.Ideal for repairing antiques with wear damage.

caswellcanada.ca

How well does that work? I'm looking at the bronze plug n plating kit to use together with my laser engraver for reflective relief engravings. If I were to use that on thin sheet metal like copper would the higher surface area of the sheet have more effect on the performance than the volume/mass of the piece altogether? Because when comparing something like 1"x1" hex bolts to 6 sq inches of Guage 20 sheet metal the volume of both items is pretty close.

 

[1018Machine]

How well does that work? I'm looking at the bronze plug n plating kit to use together with my laser engraver for reflective relief engravings.

Are you thinking the Brush style? Because the dip format will provide an even coating no problem, the only inhibiting factor is the size. I have Caswells Nickel and gold in the dip format which, with a proper power supply provides a beautiful finish.

 

[Chris Cramer]

the only inhibiting factor is the size. I have Caswells Nickel and gold in the dip format which, with a proper power supply provides a beautiful finish.

I just ordered the brush style and read online that the finish depends on the surface preparation of the piece before it's plated. What is the size of the dipping tank? The working area of my fiber laser is 150 square mm which is almost exactly 6 sq inches so would a piece that size fit into the tank?

 

[pdentrem]

I had bought the nickel brush type. Made a dip tank from a glass bottle and used a similar transformer like in the kit. Used it to plate a piece of Invar for my telescope build. Plating is not straightforward, it is an art due to all the variables.
Pierre

 

[Gennady]

Few words regarding oxidizing. Unfortunately, silver is not oxi proof. Look at you silverware, plates or candleholders. They are tarnishing quite quickly, especially if sulfur hydrogen (H2S) is present in the air or water. If this is quite critical application where contacts must be clean and have a low resistance - go for gold plating.

 

[1018Machine]

I just ordered the brush style and read online that the finish depends on the surface preparation of the piece before it's plated. What is the size of the dipping tank? The working area of my fiber laser is 150 square mm which is almost exactly 6 sq inches so would a piece that size fit into the tank?

The Bronze "mini Science plating kit is just as expensive as the Bronze plating solution. If it were me I'd get the solution as you'll want a better power source to control things better. The cathodes are easy to source as well.

 

[trevj]

Jewellery supply places will sell you as much flat silver wire as you want for not much over spot price. It is used a lot for making stone settings, and comes in a LOT of sizes. With the thickness and width, they have a better than average idea how much silver is in each inch, and they will sell you what you think you need, whether it's a lot, or very little.

Be pretty easy to solder a rim around the disk with low temperature silver bearing solder, then turn it true. Ask, they may have some options in pure silver, but likely 92.5% Sterling will be the main stock in trade.

FWIW, they may also have some flat plate that you could make the roller contact out of. As well, note that Canadian 'junk silver' from the coin shop is 80% silver content, and US constitutional Silver coins are 90%. IIRC, it's a $1.20 in silver US Change to an ounce more or less, of spot silver, and $1.35 or $1.40 in Canadian coins for same.