Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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Nickel plating of bicycle parts in backyard shop

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

Edgars Jansons
bike workshop - Riga, LV, Latvia
2003

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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
Chesham, Bucks, UK
2003

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
2003

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Hi, John! If someone wants to learn this craft, hooray! They can consider taking a job in a plating shop as the very fastest way to learn. If that doesn't fit their life situation, they may want to read journals, study books, take plating courses, and attend industry conferences or local platers' society meetings.

But electroplating was the USA's very first EPA categorically regulated industry, going back to 1978, so it may not be a fun hobby in the same sense as photography or playing piano. Because of the hazardous materials involved, it is not an appropriate backyard occupation. One doesn't "try" surgery; and due to the hazardous materials involved, it may not be advisable to "try" electroplating until a little knowledge and experience is gained. Plus, while a hobby is one thing, it is illegal to sell electroplating services or to electroplate products for sale without being licensed; it is illegal to discharge any plating waste, even rinse water, to your sewer -- although it is true that the regulatory agencies certainly focus on industry rather than individuals.

The situation may be a bit different in Edgar's Latvia and Trevor's U.K.

If you found this page looking for info on nickel plating, pose a question and we'll see if we can help. Thanks!

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2003

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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
Chesham, Bucks, UK
2003

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I have tried to find a chrome specialist in Latvia for 10 years. there is none, nothing, nada. You have to try to do it yourself. If anyone knows a chrome shop in Latvia - please respond.

Stefan.

Stefan
- Stockholm, Sweden
2006

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Hi, Stefan. We have an Introduction to Chrome Plating FAQ that you may find helpful. Best of luck with it.

Regards,

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

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Ted, what I read about California law (my state) is that if you generate more than 220 pounds of waste per month, then you need a federally issued EPA number, although regardless of waste, you would still need a "generator ID" number. My question to you is this: is the Federal EPA number the license you are talking about in order to "legitimately" electroplate? I want to make sure I'm following the laws, as I have interest in electroplating jewelry on a small scale (replating white gold). I would appreciate a reply on this.

In regards to what Trevor was saying about electroplating chemicals being fatal: I was a chemical warfare specialist in the military, and I was surprised when I realized that certain chemicals (I won't name them here) used in the jewelry and plating industries mixed together make gases the same (or similar) to the ones I studied in the military used in warfare. One only needs to search news online to see that people have died doing this profession because of a lack of safety precautions.

Michael Rodriguez
- Blythe, California
September 9, 2010

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Hi, Michael

There can be a number of permits required and a variety of agencies involved. Generally the single most urgent one is a "permit to discharge" because any rinse water is regulated and it is harder to hold onto copious volumes of rinse water than your more concentrated waste products. The usual starting point for that permit is your local POTW. There may also be a local, regional, or state Right-to-Know law where you must publish any hazardous materials on hand.

But I am not so sure that a jeweller who does electroplating suddenly becomes an electroplating jobshop as opposed to remaining a jeweler; you might want to scan the EPA rules to see if there is a category for jewellers. I hear only praise for the seminars put on by companies like Lion Technologies that review the regulatory situation and cover local as well as national issues, and I would urge you to find one. The California chapters of the plating associations have monthly meetings that often cover regulatory issues. Good luck.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
September 10, 2010