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How to remove copper and nickel plated as undercoat in silver electroforming?

I want to make PURE (99.90%) hollow silver article. I know the procedure how to make wax conductive and plate copper and nickel and finally pure silver electroforming. My problem is after removing wax how to remove copper and nickel which is plated as unercoat on silver without dissolving silver? Nitric acid will dissolve everything. Which chemicals will dissolve selectively copper and nickel without disturbing Silver?

Rupesh Katrodia
product designer and consultant - Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
September 14, 2009

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First of two simultaneous responses --

Try electroetching-as electrolyte you can use acidified copper sulphate ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] solution for copper(add few drops of H2SO4),and acidified nickel sulphate solution for nickel.Hope it helps and good luck!

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia
September 18, 2009

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Second of two simultaneous responses --

IF YOU don't DO THE NICKEL AND ONLY THE COPPER YOU CAN SOLVE THE COPPER WITH SOME COPPER ETCHING(PERsulphate BASED) WITHOUT AFFECTING THE SILVER

Ricardo Burstein
Bnei Berak, Israel
September 19, 2009