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Electroplate without buffing/polishing

2007

hello,

My name is Gilbert. I am from the Philippines and our plating process is very labor intensive. the buffing and polishing process requires skilled people who must be able to do the job. the problem is that it is getting harder to have those kind of people. But from what I read in a book ELECTROPLATING Fundamentals of Surface Finishing by Lowenheim [adv: this book on eBay , Amazon, AbeBooks] p. 216, it says that there is a development of nickel-plating baths that can produce fully bright plate directly, without the use of buffing.

my question is: is it possible to achieve bright plating without going to the process of buffing and polishing? or is it really required to buff/polish to achieve bright plating? if it is possible, can you tell me how I can achieve that.

Gilbert Gosiaco
plating shop employee - Quezon City, Philippines

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Self-leveling bright nickel is a very old and proven development, Gilbert. OEM truck and auto bumpers haven't been buffed before plating for decades now. But everything is relative. Some of us look at such items, are told that no buffing was involved, and mutter to ourselves: "obviously"  :-)

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2007

Another point of view. Think of microleveling and macroleveling. Now think of grades or steps in between. Brightness refers to micro leveling. Specular or mirror finish refers to macro PLUS microleeling. You can bright plate an orange and it will shine and reflect light but it will still have its "orange peel" macro surface. Bright nickel chemistry gives a limited microleveling. It helps but it cannot substitute a good polishing and buffing job.

Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico
2007