Summary for temporary brass plating Discussion
Temporary brass plating for an engagement ring is the central question here: John F. wants to hide a sentimental brass detail under a white-looking finish that can survive months of wear and later be removed without damaging the brass, stone, or platinum. The thread excerpt only includes the question, not a full technical answer, so no specific plating chemistry or process is confirmed in the source. John’s own idea was to use nickel as the temporary coating, braze the nickel-plated brass to platinum, and then strip the nickel on the wedding day, but he worried that reverse electroplating might attack the brass base metal. Based on the excerpt alone, the practical issue is whether any removable white plating can be both durable and safely reversible on a mixed-metal ring assembly. Because no answer text is shown, the page does not establish a recommended method or material.
June 3, 2015
Q. I’m soon to be engaged and am designing the engagement ring. I was hoping for some technical advice on how to pull off a finishing “magic trick”.
Brass is a very sentimental metal to my girl. And I’d like to incorporate a small element of brass detailing in the ring — to be revealed on her wedding day.
The basic technical problem is the following:
Is it possible to temporarily electroplate brass with a “white” plating metal which is durable enough to wear for several months and able to be removed (reverse electroplating?) without harming the brass, precious stone, or the platinum.
My two questions:
1) What would be a good plating material candidate.
2) What would the plating and reverse plating process look like.
My initial thought was to use nickel as the plating material, braze the nickel plated brass to the platinum, and then remove the nickel finish on the wedding day. However, I believe the reverse electroplating would harm the brass base metal.
John F [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
Hobbyist – California USA