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Faith,

Mr. Mooney is correct in the sense that the best and real way to silverplate is with an electroplating process but he may have overlooked a cheaper way to do it without cyanide. I found a supplier of Jax silver plating solution which is brushed on, allowed to dry, rinsed off and gives a reasonable silver plated finish without the need of electricity. It's an easy and inexpensive way to touch up parts.

Regards,

Lance Fisher
- Fairlawn, NJ, USA

In fact, I've since discovered there there are a number of commercial immersion silver plating kits. They rely on the fact that silver will come out of solution in preference to exposed metal that is lower in nobility like copper and brass. Immersion plating gives a really thin coating because as soon as the surface is covered with even one atom thickness the reaction will cease. But if the item will see no wear, and you are willing to repeat it fairly frequently, you and a number of other readers are reporting that it can work. There are a number of brands recommended on these pages and we've added an FAQ, "Silver Plating at Home", that sources the Jax as well as Medallion Liquid Silver Plating Solution, Miracle Silver, Nu Silver, Quickshine, Silveron, Silver Plating Formula, Silver Secret, and The Silver Solution.

Thanks!

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