(Banner at right
cycles thru suppliers of
rhodium plating solutions
and accessories)


Letter 24056

Polishing of rhodium plated mirror [South Carolina] 

+++

I have a WWII antiaircraft searchlight that has a rhodium plated mirror. What is the best way to polish this mirror?

Thank You,

Jule Elliott Elkin
Searchlight Ad Ventures - Lexington, South Carolina, USA


+++

Hi Jule,
there is no such thing as polishing rhodium in the conventional sense. Rhodium is extremely hard and durable. Even with high speed polishing equipment using specialty compounds used for platinum group metals, rhodium is not affected much by polishing.

The best you can do is remove the rhodium mechanically, repolish the base metal, nickel plate and replate the surface over with rhodium. Obviously this will not be easy or cheap to do because of its size and the inherent technical difficulties. WW2 search lights used a rhodium process designed specifically for searchlights and many were scrapped during manufacturing because electroplating something that large even with custom anodes still yielded poor results.

Bear in mind money was no object when they were originally made! Your best bet would be to brush plate (selective plating)the new rhodium plating onto the refurbished surface area. There are a few aerospace platers who might be able to help.

Good luck, Dave

David Vinson
Metal Arts Specialties - Leonard, Michigan


Dear Reader: please choose what you want to do--

I want to answer or follow-up on this subject publicly (in non-commercial fashion).
 
My company is a supporting advertiser at finishing.com and we want the contact information to reach the inquirer privately.
 
I want to post a new question or inquiry of my own on a different subject.
 





     

 Save This Page (why?)    -    Home    -    ©1995-2008 finishing.com