Summary for hobby jewelry plating Discussion
Hobby plating of jewelry at home is discussed as a beginner-friendly but equipment-dependent project. The original poster, a retired engineer, wants to plate gold or silver onto jewelry at home and asks about books, tank size, and whether a single machine can handle multiple finishes. In a related reply, Estrella K says she is learning electroplating for family keepsakes and small-business use, asking about tank sizing, directions, and whether one machine can be used for several colors and baths. The thread excerpt does not include a technical answer, but it does show the practical concerns: different metals may need different voltages, agitation, and solutions, and a purpose-built machine may be easier than assembling everything separately. Ted Mooney’s site branding appears in the source, but no specific advice from him is included in the excerpt.
I am new to Electroplating and I want to take up as a hobby the plating of Gold or Silver onto Jewelry. I am a retired engineer with electrical registration and wish to work at home. Have read Practical Electroplating [onAmazonaffil links] by Thomas Rodgers
Would appreciate any help or advice and where to purchase chemicals.
Bryan G [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
– Auckland New Zealand
2000
A. Hi, Bryan.
It is possible to do gold and silver “immersion plating”on limited substrates (copper, brass, gold, silver) with relatively safe commercial products (see our FAQ “Silver Plating at Home”).
You may wish to look up “brush plating” or “hobby plating” for suppliers of chemicals in small volumes.
I don’t know what your home looks like with respect to its suitability for electroplating, Bryan, but real silver and gold electroplating are usually done in an industrial rather than a residential setting. Most decorative silver and many gold electroplating solutions are based on cyanide, which is an extremely dangerous chemical to work with. So consider whether you have children or pets at home, and whether you can actually safely do the types of plating you have in mind. Good luck!
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
2000
Electroplating Keepsakes (family items)
Q. Hello there, I am expanding into learning the basics of electroplating. My books are on their way, are there any books you would recommend me reading as well? I am electroplating family keepsakes since I am trying to open up a small business. I’ve got the regulations down and will further look into it. However, my question is how large of a tank do I need. I know twice as big of the anode. However I am wondering also on the directions with all machinery. Shouldn’t they all come with directions? I am beginning to really consider purchasing an entire machine, and buying the solutions. I am looking for colors gold silver pewter copper/bronze.
After reading I know that each has a different volt and agitation system. Is there a machine I can purchase that I can dip in a few diff color baths? Thank you in advance!
Estrella K [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
Artist, hobbyist, student (teaching myself) – New mexico
May 1, 2016
Usually available on
eBay; sometimes on AbeBooks
or
Amazon
free pdf is currently available from academia.edu
A. Hi Estrella. While still available, please review (and maybe download) the on-line version of the Metal Finishing Guidebook.
This will give you a full understanding of what electroplating is about. “Electroplating machines” can run from a couple of hundred thousand dollars into the multi-million dollar range.
Home/hobby/experimental plating is a minor and simplified subset with no automation, and where you buy small individual tanks, power supplies, and auxiliary equipment. But there are (and this may be what you are thinking of) small prepackaged modular plating lines consisting of a half dozen small tanks, their power supplies, etc. in a tabletop console. They are avaialble from Technic. Take a look at
www.technic.com/equipment/laboratory-equipment/table-top-units
and see if that’s what you have in mind. Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
May 2016