Letter 21062

Brush plating experience  

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Can anyone tell me, what are disadvantages and problems of Brush Plating ( selective plating). Is it really so expensive? How critical is the activation? Could it be done faster? I bought equipment, but delaying start up! Need encouragement, or partner.

Thanks,

Ruth Mirkovic
- Jerusalem, Israel, Israel

What you might need is Marvin Rubinstein's book Electrochemical Metallizing.

Ted Mooney, P.E.  finishing.com Brick, New Jersey

Dear Mr. Mooney,
Thank you for the prompt response. I was hoping that I will get what I asked for, and what I need. I am M's, electrochemist, with over 20 years of experience in the field, and I certainly could find the literature myself, and I of course have all the manuals of the Brush Plating.

I need real experience, or real person, definitely not to be told, what I need. I apologize if my english as a second language, heard your Laconic answer as something else than you meant it to be.

Ruth Mirkovic
- Jerusalem, Israel

Ms. Mirkovic,

Some of my responses on these pages may not be particularly good, but for the most part I answer questions as well as I can. A concise answer (which you call laconic) is sometimes better than a rambling one. I don't understand you resenting me recommending a particular book that I know is priceless to anyone doing serious brush plating, and instead throwing your education and experience in my face after asking for my help.

This book is the life's work of a man who spent his life brush plating. If you haven't seen the book, please at least take a look at it before you condemn my answer.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com Inc. - Brick, NJ

Brush plating is fantastic for some things and terrible for others. It is a terribly operator sensitive form of plating. This is overcome by reading the instructions well, buying a book on the subject, setting your equipment up so that you can make very rapid brush changes and the biggest unsaid secret is keep the area being plated wet at all times. It does take knowledge and practice, but you have the equipment, try it , you may like it. Work at it and you will love it.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida

Ms. Mirkovic,

While I agree with Mr. Watts that brush plating is operator sensitive. It is a robust process that has a proven record for yielding consistent, high quality plating deposits.

Concerning your question on how important is metal preparation, I would say it is very important. Brush plating is after all an electrolytic plating process and as in the case of conventional tank plating, sound activation procedures must be followed.

If you are interested in pursing this process, I would invite you to contact me at your convenience.

Chris Helwig Brooktronics Engineering Corp. Valencia, California

Hi Mirkovic,

I have been experience with brush plating system from last 3 and half years.

Brush plating is very good system for small & big items if you don't have big tanks brush plating can help you lot and with brush plating if you want to apply on newbrand product it is very best system easy to use it depends from where you buy the system. I have done 2 big jobs of old brass chandeliers and on brass sticks(11"L and .5"D.)

With brush plating you can not do thicker coating like if you think to plate copper on steel and then bright copper to get mirror like finish it is very hard to do. Then you will need tank plating.

Dipen Pattni
jeweler/goldsmith - Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania

Several problems, not only activation but roughness, anode erosion, warping damage, solution spillage and loss, surrounding area contamination, blisters, cracks, spalls and a number of other points (even aches from staying in the same position for hours) will increase exponentially when you try to build up a thick plate. Also, when the plate is subject to heavy stresses or conditions, such as the ones encountered in industry.

For touch up, decorative or light work it´s fantastic and activation is almost never a problem. Sometimes the plating solutions can be used as self activators after a conventional thorough cleaning. About being expensive haven´t you bought any solutions yet? Compared to conventional plating, hell yes they are expensive. But if BP is the best method then it pays. G. Marrufo-Mexico

Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico

Ruth,

I know I'm about three years late but I only recently found your question.

I received my original certification in Electrochemical Deposition (Brush Plating), in 1979. I have successfully plated everything from giant bull gears, aircraft upper elevator hinges, to large production parts as small as .040" O.D by .040" long.

My best advice is to eliminate all variables. By that I mean there are a lot of things that can go wrong. The sooner you learn to identify and eliminate them, the faster you will become and less frustrated with your outcome.

I don't think there are disadvantages to brush plating, as with any tool it's advantage is, it can be used where other tools wouldn't work as well. Before I plan any job I first qualify that Brush Plating is the best fix available.

The most significant problem with the system is that most operators don't have enough experience. It has been my experience that contamination foils the novice plater more than anything else.

Expensive? That depends on the relationship of your bottom line. Is it an asset or a liability? It has been my experience that my customers have found my services to be close to priceless, I'm always a hero in their eyes because I've saved them so much time and money.

Yes activation is critical. Everything from pre-planning to clean-up is critical.

I can't assume to qualify "faster" without having a speed to compare with.

If you haven't already given up on the process, I would be more than happy to give you any encouragement you need.

I will be happy to provide you with any technical assistance. I stopped plating in 2000' to pursue other interest but I'm sure I can help you more than most.

Michael Allen Lage
- Marysville, CA, USA

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