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Small non-conductive items
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I really could do with some help. I'm trying to establish a small cottage industry by electroplating insects and other small non-conductive items. I have never plated anything since school days long passed. Do you know of any company in New Zealand that can supply me with the information and the chemicals that I will need?
There is no problem with waste disposal as my established company meets with all local requirements.
I know kits are available but the exchange rate along with the freight and the duty make this option out of the question.
Any help will be most appreciated.
Thanks...
Phillip Steven Charles- Waipu, Northland, New Zealand
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I almost wish schools would discontinue their electroplating demonstrations because my experience from thousands of letters posted here is that most newbies have unrealistic expectations about what is involved in electroplating and what is achievable on a casual basis :-)
Jewelry-level plating of insects, flowers, leaves, and other inorganic items is clearly possible, Phillip, but it is often done by artisans with artistic capability combined with a lifetime of experience, or even multi-generational experience.
In principal it's fairly easy: you lacquer the item, with special lacquers available from companies like G.J.Nikolas; you metallize it with two-part silvering solution or a conductive "paint" available from companies like Acheson Colloids; and you plate it with proprietary plating chemicals available from companies like Electrochemical Products Inc and Technic.
But doing it with no experience and possibly unrealistic budget constraints can be a problem unless your artistic skills are exceptional and using them is important to you. Good luck!
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 Ted Mooney, P.E. RET finishing.com Brick, New Jersey |
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Thank Ted for your response which is a theme that I keep following in your replies to people that want to start their own little enterprize.
My question was however, does anyone know of companies in New Zealand that can supply me with the technical information and/or the chemicals plus equipment to start a small business? was not answered.
Ted, I am 60 years old and have my own company which I work from home. Home being a 3 acre block with my home and also a large and well maintained workshop with a laboratory at one end.
I am both mechanical and artistic and have no 'budget constraints' you mentioned, my mention of the kits is purely a profit and loss equation.
I apologize if this sounds a bit gruff, but for some of us that want to learn and develop something for and by themselves have thought about the negative issues before continuing in their quest. I look forward to someone knowing of a company in New Zealand and replying to this enquiry.
Phillip Steven Charles- New Zealand
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Cool it, man. Ted gets so many letters from idiots, he's taken by surprise when a sensible one turns up. A quick web search gave me Atotech New Zealand Ltd in Auckland, and a'Courts Ltd in I don't know where. There's also the yellow pages, of course...
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Bill Reynolds consultant metallurgist Ballarat, Victoria, Australia It is this website's profoundly sad |
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My whole career has been in the electroplating industry and entirely dependent upon it, Phillip -- so I'm all in favor of the technology and anyone wanting to engage in it! But I don't apologize for giving fair warning to people who say they want to do it out of their cottage and have never done it except 40 years ago in school. We have an FAQ on Plating Organic Materials that you may find helful.
Here in the USA, electroplating was the very first environmentally regulated business, Phillip. An acquaintance from Pennsylvania is in the penitentiary after starting a plating operation in his garage, and being sucked in by degrees until the disposal cost was unthinkable, and then making a bad choice of what to do about it. I was in court in Texas where millions of dollars have been spent on legal fees and tens of millions will be spent on the cleanup of the aquifer caused by contamination from a plating shop operating out of a garage. Nor is this the only acquaintance serving prison time for plating-related environmental crimes, nor the only environmental contamination suit I've been involved in. So, no, I am not generally gung-ho when someone says they want to start an electroplating shop in their cottage -- but New Zealand is not the USA and things may be different.
Sorry, I don't know the local electroplating distributorships in New Zealand. Hopefully other readers will.
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 Ted Mooney, P.E. RET finishing.com Brick, New Jersey |
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Thank you for your replies and I apologize for my 'hasty reply'. I have been given the run-a-round from all sorts of people who are not willing to share their knowledge and frustration is the only explanation I can offer. I will certainly try the companies you suggest and let you know in the fullness of time the results of my investigations. Once more thank you for your help.
Regards,
Phillip Charles- Waipu, New Zealand
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Hallo Phillip,
I have information for you but you have to contact GOLD TOUCH INC in USA, they have an agent in New Zealand. I'm sure that what you are finding you will get from them.
Good Luck!
Dipen Pattni
jeweler/goldsmith - Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania
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I have little experience with plating insects but I do artistic flowers and leaves and the process would be similar I suspect.
I would make sure the insect is dead-most would not appreciate a gold-plated Tree Weta crawling across their desk!
With flowers I use this technique; Dry them in a sheltered place for several days. Once dried pick them up with tweezers and spray them with two coats of hair lacquer to seal up the pores. Then dip them in the conductive coating and plate as usual.
If you can, avoid using cyanide solutions as they need specialist disposal. Very costly.
Jim Wochi- Hokitika