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Using immersion silver plating solution on raw brass?

April 9, 2009

I was just wondering. When it say use on brass does that mean raw brass or brass that has already been treated before?
I like to silver plate raw brass charms and lockets for a necklace and a bracelet design. Could something like Jax silver plating solution [affil links] work? And do I have to seal the charms after the plating?

Thanks,

Yvonne C
jewelry designer - Santa Monica, California

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April 14, 2009

Hi, Yvonne. If something says it will work on brass, it should work on any clean (scrubbed with pumice ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] ) brass. But if the brass surface is rough, the silver plated surface will be rough. You won't get shine from the silvering solution, only by polishing the substrate.

Jax silver plating solution [affil links]or other brands of immersion silvering won't last long against even the slightest wear because the plating is only millionths of an inch thick. Real silver electroplating would be worlds more durable.

There are many brands of sealants to protect silver plating and delay tarnishing. One sealant is offered by a supporting advertiser who makes this site possible is Everbrite [a finishing.com supporting advertiser] Protectaclear.

Regards,

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