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Having a problem plating a pewter pot with silver

I am having problems plating a pewter tea pot. I have tried copper plate prior to plating in silver. This is not working well at all. The copper is flashing in spots and wants to cake up in other areas while leaving most of the pewter showing. I am using a cyanide silver solution. This leaves a real mess when trying to remove the plating. Am I using the wrong voltage or current. This is a small pot. Hope some one can give me something that works.

Thanks much.

WILLIAM CLIFTON
- CLOQUET, MN, USA
2002

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Mr. Clifton,

I could be wrong and I hope I am, but it sounds like you have little plating experience or equipment, and yet you are working with a cyanide plating solution. Cyanide is being phased out as rapidly as practical even from industrial plating facilities where the operators are well trained and wearing full personal protection equipment, trained rescue personnel are on hand with SCBA respirators available, emergency antidote kits have been obtained by prescription, and the local hospital contacted as part of the emergency preparedness program. If I am wrong, forgive me; if I am right, you must immediately stop using this extraordinarily powerful, instantaneous acting poison.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2002