The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
-----

Need Information on Nickel Plating!

2001

To whom it may concern

I am in the 5th form and am taking a subject called applied arts. For this I need to nickel plate a brass arm band. The school has all the stuff I need for this but as one of the teachers just left no-one knows how to set up the nickel plating.

I need to know this by Friday the 18th if possible, but I would appreciate the info even if it is slightly late.

Thank you for your help

Karen Hadfield
- New Zealand

---

2001

Plating isn't easy, Ms. Hadfield. But, in general, you need to clean that armband, acid activate it, then plate it.

You can clean it with pumice ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] and a tampico brush, acid activate it in dilute sulfuric acid, then plate it in a Watts bright nickel bath. This is a little tricky because you should buy a proprietary nickel plating solution with proprietary wetting agent, brightener, and carrier.

But you can at least make an attempt with a generic mix of nickel sulphate, nickel chloride, and boric acid, per the Metal Finishing Guidebook's chapter on the subject. Operate at 140 degrees Fahrenheit, and plate at 40 amperes per square foot. Use baby shampoo (sodium lauryl sulphate) as the wetting agent if proprietaries are unavailable to you, and maybe try some of the suggested (but antiquated) brighteners and carriers.

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