Summary for copper flashing on steel Discussion
Copper flashing on steel for nickel plating is the focus keyphrase here, but the thread does not establish a date when it became common. Bob Swartz asks how to date a nickel-plated part that is not bright and appears to be directly on steel, wondering when copper flash on steel for nickel plating started being used. In reply, Ted Mooney says he may learn something too, and explains that he understands the value of heavy copper plating because it is soft, polishable, can fill scratches, and can improve nickel brightness, while also serving as a soft interlayer for expansion issues in plating on plastics. However, he notes that copper flash requires unfriendly copper cyanide chemistry and says he does not even see its value today, much less know when others first recognized it. The discussion therefore offers context on why copper might be used, but no historical cutoff date.
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Q. I am trying to date a particular nickel plating. It is not bright and is directly on steel. So, when, if anyone knows, did it become common to flash copper on steel for nickel plating? Thanks.
Bob Swartz
– San Antonio Texas
June 16, 2022
A. Hi Bob. Maybe I’ll learn something too! I understand the value of heavy copper plating (being soft but polishable for filling scratches and improving brightness of the nickel, and offering a soft interlayer to help deal with expansion in plating on plastics, etc.).
But the copper flash must be done with unfriendly copper cyanide, and I don’t even see it’s value today, let alone know on what date someone else appreciated its value :-)
Luck & Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
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June 2022