Letter 20046

Jeweler has rhodium plating problem  

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I am a jeweler and was wondering if anyone has any explanation for the following. Could someone please explain why when I rhodium plate a white gold claw set ring, why do the tips of the claws become blackened. (Burnt in the process of rhodium plating?) Particularly when we are masking of to rhodium coat two tone pieces of jewelry. We are using 6V battery charger on low end.

Any help/suggestions would be appreciated.

Andrew Dutton
- Cairns, Queensland, Australia

Because your voltage is too high. Get a better power supply.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida

Six volts is too high for rhodium, particularly if you are plating one ring at a time. Yes, you are "burning" the prong tips, which are a very high current density area.The current needs to be below 60 ASF and on a single ring this is only about 0.3 or 0.4 amps. Less if you are masking some of the surface.

Neil Bell
Red Sky Plating - Albuquerque, NM

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