Using paint to achieve a plated raised letter equipment tag
All,
I'm restoring a 1920 victrola that has a brass based equipment 2x4" ID tag. This tag has a burnt red paint face with raised nickel(bright) letters rising above the paint (.0001 -.0005") sufficiently to click easily when scratched with a fingernale. The paint appears to have been used as a plating resist.
I've achieved a silkscreen of this label and have been able to reproduce the paint transfer to a new brass sheet. The unplated label looks identical to the old with the brass letters showing through the red paint. I've tried to nickel plate this label making the raised letters but have run into a few issues.
Using a silkscreen transfer method, paint consistance is an issue, the best transfer I could get was using an artist acrylic. Initial tests had the paint adhere good if baked at 170 degrees for about 15 minutes.
Once in the plating bath, the basic nickel plug-n-plate kit was slow to plate even with an anode and 1rpm spiral cathode (label) aggitation. The paint seperated from the brass plate in spots after about 35-45 minutes in 115 degree solution and 60 minutes in 80 degree solution.
I need to find a paint that can be used with a silkscreen and can be used to perform this plating job. The paint must stay as part of the label forever.
Any ideas would be welcome.
Thanks
Jack
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