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Q&As since 1989


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Silver Safety Pin Piercing

Hello, I'd like to electroplate a safety pin so that I can pierce myself with it and keep it in the hole without getting a gross green infection. Since they don't sell silver safety pins anywhere, I have a silver fork, and could probably get access to silver ion and nitrate, could you let me in on some of the details on how to do this?

Thanks,

Josh Wright
university student - Komoka, Ontario, Canada
2004

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You cannot easily do real silver electroplating plating at home, Josh, because it virtually needs cyanide chemistry. You can do a thin "wipe-on" silvering process at home (please see our Silver Plating at Home FAQ for more info on these subjects), but probably only on copper-based materials whereas a safety pin is usually steel.

Any plating shop that silver plates heirlooms could theoretically plate this for you, but you can just buy a sterling silver safety pin if you wish, Josh. I have the feeling that they are really intended for wear after the piercing has closed, rather than for the piercing operation though, as silver doesn't sound like it would hold a point or an edge. Good luck though.

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

Silver, in my opinion, is horrible for piercings. Most silver jewelry made for piercing nowadays has a steel post that goes through the hole and the silver hopefully does not come in contact with the hole. Stick to a stainless steel (preferably a 300 series like 316L, 304, etc.) titanium, niobium, or gold. (I prefer steel or titanium). Several body jewelry companies sell safety pin style piercing jewelry (Rings And Things inc comes to mind) in high quality materials. Just do a net search for them and you should come across it.

Jason Aube
- Flint, Michigan
2004

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May 13, 2010

Where can we purchase these small sterling safety pins.?

Mary Chapman
- Schaghticoke, New York

Ed. note: Sorry, this RFQ is old & outdated, so contact info is no longer available. However, if you feel that something technical should be said in reply, please post it; no public commercial suggestions please ( huh? why?)