We realise that with such a wide range of metal surfaces out there to choose from, it can be confusing to know exactly what steps and which chemicals are required for plating. Sometimes, things can get even trickier to decipher when the steps required for plating in a certain metal vary or are completed in a different order, when brush plating versus tank plating.
We have created a step by step explanation of the steps and chemicals that you will need to plate the most popular metals. It has been designed to remove any uncertainties that platers may encounter so that you are armed with all the necessary knowledge. We are going to assume that the final plating finish is gold, but all steps leading up to the final stage are appropriate regardless of finish, unless otherwise noted.
Please note: the metal in each subheading represents the surface that would be plated over e.g. our first example details the steps required for plating over copper.
Rinse stages apply throughout all plating processes and this should be done strictly with deionised water to avoid contamination of your chemicals. Rinse stages have been omitted from the below instructions, as this is a guide to the required plating solutions for various processes. Deionised water is not a plating solution. If you purchase a plating kit, you will receive instruction on all rinse stages involved in each process. If you buy chemicals from us separately, you are welcome to request this information via email.
How to plate over copper
Brush plating steps:
Polish → electroclean → nickel plate → nickel activator → electroclean → gold plate
Tank plating steps:
Electroclean → Electroforming Copper → nickel plate → gold plate
How to plate over brass
Brush plating steps:
Polish → electroclean → Copper Strike → nickel plate → nickel activator → electroclean → gold plate
Tank plating steps:
Polish (if heavily oxidised) → electroclean → Electroforming Copper → nickel plate → gold plate
How to plate over stainless steel
Brush plating steps:
Electroclean → stainless steel activator → electroclean → gold plate
Tank plating steps:
Electroclean → stainless steel activator → electroclean → 18K Gold flash plate → gold plate
How to plate over steel (non stainless)
Tank plating steps (not recommended for brush plating):
Electroclean → stainless steel activator → electroclean → 18K Gold flash plate → Nickel plate for 40 minutes → gold plate
How to plate over zinc / zinc-based alloys
Brush plating steps:
Degrease with detergent (not a plating stage) → Copper Strike → nickel plate → nickel activate → electroclean → gold plate
*On some occasions, after Copper Strike, you may need to brush on Electroforming Copper and polish back before progressing to the next step.
Tank plating steps:
Degrease with detergent (not a plating step) → Copper Strike → Electroforming Copper → nickel plate → gold plate
How to plate over silver
Brush plating steps:
Polish → electroclean → nickel plate → nickel activator → gold plate
Tank plating steps:
Polish → electroclean → nickel plate → gold plate
*If the silver that you are plating is jewellery, swap the nickel plate for palladium plate.
How to plate over aluminium
Tank plating steps (cannot be brush plated):
Polish → electroclean → AllyCu Solution → nickel plate for 40 minutes → gold plate
How to plate over iron
Brush plating steps:
De-rust and polish → electroclean → Copper Strike → Electroforming Copper followed by a polish → electroclean → nickel plate → nickel activator → electroclean → gold plate
Tank plating steps:
De-rust and polish → electroclean → Copper Strike → Electroforming Copper → nickel plate → gold plate
How to plate over titanium
Brush plating steps:
Electroclean → stainless steel activator → electroclean → gold plate
Tank plating steps:
Electroclean → stainless steel activator → electroclean → 18K Gold flash plate → gold plate
How to plate over 9K - 18K gold
Brush plating steps:
Electroclean → nickel activator → electroclean → gold plate
Tank plating steps:
Electroclean → nickel activator → electroclean → gold plate
How to plate over palladium
Brush plating steps:
Electroclean → gold plate
Tank plating steps:
Electroclean → gold plate
How to plate over rhodium
Brush plating steps:
Electroclean → gold plate
Tank plating steps:
Electroclean → gold plate
How to plate over nickel
Brush plating steps:
Electroclean → nickel activator → electroclean → gold plate
Tank plating steps:
Electroclean → nickel activator → electroclean → gold plate
How to plate over chrome
Brush plating steps:
Chrome Stripper with polarity reversed → switch polarity back then use nickel activator → electroclean → gold plate
Tank plating steps:
Chrome Stripper with polarity reversed → switch polarity back then use nickel activator → electroclean → gold plate
Helpful hints: if you are plating jewellery made from any of the metals in this list featuring a nickel-plating stage, you must use palladium solution instead which does not need to be activated.
If you are plating aluminium and it has been anodised, the anodise must be removed with G.S.P Anodise Stripper prior to completing any of the steps that we have set out.
