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How to polish Britannia Metal and pretreat it for silver plating

May 27, 2013

Q. I silver plate a lot of EPBM [Electroplated Britannia metal]. Sometimes there can be a thick black layer of oxide on the epbm which makes polishing difficult and of course plating impossible. What is the best method of removing this oxide layer?

Carey de Laeter
Manager - AUSTRALIA

A. If your parts are not too big or your oxide is not too thick or gummy, you can try a dry abrasive mass finishing system.

AF Kenton
retired business owner - Hatboro, Pennsylvania
June 3, 2013

July 1, 2013

A. Soak parts in dilute hydrochloric for a few minutes, take out and lightly scrub surface with 00 grade steel wool in water. Rinse and dry well. Small 2" to 3" calico wheel with Lea compound, lightly coated and broken will cut out and or blend in problems. Swansdown with tripoli will give good cleanup of surface for finish. Make sure you do not get it too warm. If new to this, take your time and you will get good results. Dave

Dave Coleman
electroplater - Cairns Queensland Australia

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