Hello: I think I want to start rhodium plating my silver work so it
stays nicer (brighter and scratch resistant) longer. I am having
problems finding a place in NYC that would just rhodium plate my
finish work (no one wants to take silver jewelry work even if it
means just plating it!) so I thought I would just set up my own
system in my studio. I am not 100% sure what equipment to buy. I
was just flipping through the Rio Catalog. Can anyone make any
equipment suggestions for me?
Everytime I head south to NYC, I always head to Marco Delano for
all my polishing and plating! He is located in the basement of 50
West 47th street. At the bottom of the stairs (or elevator if
needed) turn right, and then right again.
They are good! Their prices are very fair and you can get same day
services in most cases.
A VERY satisfied customer! Judy Shaw, Grad. Jeweler-Gemologist (GIA)
Jasco Minerals located in the still snowy Adirondacks of NY
Dear Dede, The Midas rhodium over gold system (335-311), (pg 464 2004
tools) will work great with a few additions. Two more beakers
(335-041), copper handling wire, bright nickel plating solution
(335-078) as a preplate and a nickel anode (335-024). Also a method
of heating solutions is recommended but not required.
You can call me or e-mail me off list if you have further questions.
Best regards,
Thackeray Taylor
Rio Grande Technical Support
1-800-545-6566 X19309
Dear Dede, I having been wanting to set up small scale rhodium
plating over silver for a long time. Have never managed to find a
small-scale plater who does rhodium over silver—everyone I found
does rhodium only over gold, and everyone I’ve spoken to or
corresponded with says rhodium over silver on a small scale is
problematic. Perhaps Thackery can refer us to someone who uses the
Midas rh-over-gold system on silver with success?
Dear Dede, I having been wanting to set up small scale rhodium
plating over silver for a long time. Have never managed to find a
small-scale plater who does rhodium over silver---everyone I found
does rhodium only over gold, and everyone I've spoken to or
corresponded with says rhodium over silver on a small scale is
problematic. Perhaps Thackery can refer us to someone who uses the
Midas rh-over-gold system on silver with success? Janet in
Jerusalem
Dear Janet, Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. Our rhodium
solution is VERY acidic and any copper bearing metals will easily
contaminate the solution as copper easily dissolves into this acid
based solution. However, speaking from experience and with several
people whom are even more experienced, pre plating with, nickel, gold
or even silver, will prevent any contamination as these metals are
not dissolved as easily into this acid base solution. Once this pre
plating is done properly it’s just like plating gold items. It’s a
little more work but well worth the results. Keep in mind binding
wire is many times overlooked and will contaminate rhodium solutions
just as readily as any component so you should be using stainless
steel, 14k or higher, freshly nickel plated copper or fine silver.
Also, probably the most common plating mistake we in tech support
encounter is cleanliness or lack of. Buffing compound will
contaminate solutions very easily so be diligent in your prep work
and keeping your plating area clean!
I hope this helps.
Warmest regards,
Thackeray
Rio Grande Technical Support
Thanks for your help. I intended to preplate with nickel but have
been told that it is extremely difficult to do nickel plating on a
small scale (in a beaker) because it requires a complex solution
which is difficult to keep up (?). Can you refer me to people who do
smale-scale nickel and rhodium plating successfully? I have never
been able to find such a person, which makes me feel it perhaps is
not feasible.