Letter 24044

Nickel plating in backyard shop

+++

I wanted to plate some bike parts with nickel but I lack some exact information about the quantity of nickel sulfate, electric voltage, process length and temperature. Thanks for help.

Edgars Jansons
bike workshop - Riga, LV, Latvia

It will be much cheaper to go to a specialist electroplater. If you have no experience or knowledge in electroplating, you will be putting in a lot of effort, time and money to do something that a specialist will do for you. I suggest you get on with things you are expert in and leave this sort of thing to other experts.

Trevor Crichton R&D practical scientist - UK

With this thought pattern.......how does anyone get good at anything?? A person should try what he desires then decide whether he wants to pursue it or not.

John Matson
- Denver, Colorado

If someone wants to learn the craft, hooray! They can take a job in a plating shop as the fastest way to do so. If they want to read journals, study books, take plating courses, attend industry conferences or local platers' society meetings, great!

But electroplating was the USA's first EPA categorically regulated industry, going back to 1978. It is not a hobby in the sense of photography or playing piano, nor an appropriate backyard occupation either. It is illegal to sell electroplating services or to electroplate a product for sale without being licensed. It is illegal to discharge any plating waste, even rinse water, to your sewer.

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

+++ Ted is right. The plating industry is highly regulated and, because of the many harmful chemicals it uses, it should be. There are too many cowboys around who don't give a damn about their neighbors and their environment, just as long as they can make a quick buck. I for one would be very concerned if my neighbor began uncontrolled tipping electroplating chemicals down the local waste water drains as these chemicals can cause serious illness and even be fatal. If people want to get expert at things, they must learn from a good teacher and practice the skills in a controlled place. You wouldn't let your children get in and take a car down a freeway without being taught to drive would you? Trevor Crichton R&D practical scientist - UK ++++++ I have tried to find a chrome specialist in Latvia for 10 years. there is non, nothing, nada. You have to try to do it yourself. If anyone knows a chrome shop in Latvia - please respond. Stefan. Stefan - Stockholm, Sweden