Letter 4033

Plating On Non-Conductive Surfaces..Flowers 

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I need help plating on non-conductive surfaces. I am trying to plate flowers. I am currently using a copper conductive coating both sprayed and brushed on, they are then tinned and then nickel plated. I have had problems with both constancy and with the length of time to apply. I spoke with a company that sells a silver conductive paint while this may or may not be more effective I don't think it will solve the problems I having. I would like to find a more cost and time effective method than the one I am using. Any advice or product information would be greatly appreciated....Bob

Robert Brown - Empire Gold Plating - Montour Falls N.Y 14865

People buy plated flowers not for their utilitarian value--they have none--but to support an art form that they appreciate. So when people ask how to make them more beautiful or more durable, I'm interested.

But when people ask how to do it cheaper and quicker, even though I recognize that it's a business and this is a valid question, I'm prompted to suggest that they electroform a stamper from the flower and just press copies out of foil a mile a minute. After all, if it's not about lavishing attention on the individual and unique flower, what IS it about, and why bother?

Although I've never plated flowers myself, I believe that you will get better and more accurate results by starting with a two-part silvering solution (simultaneous spray of silver nitrate and a reducing solution) than from a conductive paint.

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

I tried finding a spray paint or coating to use last summer, when I tried my hand at non-metallic substrates. I found that an inexspensive spray coating that had 95-97% zinc powder in it works great, and the price under $3.00 a can. Give it a shot, industrial/commerical supply houses has it.

Good luck.

Philip Lee Camp
Heating @Air - Phenix City, Ala

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