Help for a newbie

[majar]

Sorry if this is redundant, but I'm new to the electroplating and have scads of questions. I'm trying to read through all the old posts, but that is a formidable task.

Initially, I wanted to try replating the handles of a silver service and thought I'd try to do it using the wands and the plug and plate kits. It worked very well and I think I'm addicted to it. Anyway, I have the lid of an old serving dish that appears to have been silverplated on top of copper plate, on top of what I assume it nickel, and underneath it all is potmetal. In some areas the nickel is flaking off and pitting. I'm not yet ready to purchase a sandblaster and wondered if there is anyway to get the nickel off without one?

Thanks,

Majar

[jimcarry]

Re: Help for a newbie

A good alternative to sand blasting would be a Scotchbrite pad as a buffing wheel , or a Britex wheel for removing Chrome from pot metals this should work for nickel also.
You can polish and use acid copper to repair the pits

[gsw3]

Re: Help for a newbie

If I understand Majar's post, he is indicating that the nickel is flaking and pitting.
If the nickel is pitting, most likely the pot metal under the nickel is also damaged.

If you try and use acid copper and the acid copper solution "sees" the pot metal, the acid copper will eat the pot metal and make a mess of the part.

It is also not necessary to remove the nickel.
Clean all the pits out (using a small drill bit) to remove all bad pot metal.
Use "Solder-It" pot metal solder paste to fill in the pits (this stuff is good but a bit tricky to use - don't try a "good" part first, practice on somethig else).
Then use flash copper. Flash copper will not attack the pot metal incase you missed any pitted areas.
The flash copper will not adhere to any pitted areas, however, it will not ruin the part if you did miss some.
Buff to a killer shine then silver plate.

Majar, go to the Pot Metal Plating forum to find out additional info you must know about plating pot metal.

George W.
Orlando, FL