Letter 24038

Copper plating lead  

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Lead shot has been copper plated for many years. Now, lead bullets are copper plated. How do you plate copper onto lead?

Thank you.

Wayne M. Godfrey
hobbyist - Westford, Massachusetts

hi, Wayne. One thing you need to do is treat the lead with hydrofluoric acid -- the chemical which probably most frightens professional platers. Don't even think about plating onto lead in a hobbyist environment unless you've had training in it please.

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

There is a mechanical process for plating copper on lead projectiles. This involves no cyanide and no electroplating. It is a variation of mechanical plating and uses a special technique to get a uniform, bright, adherent copper deposit.

Arnold Satow
- New City, New York