I have recently started playing around with silver plating. I use
Rio Grande’s Non-Cyanide plating solution. (The MSDS lists the
ingredients as Silver Succinamide and Potassium Hydroxide.) I have
experimented with plating little pieces of copper foil, 1 inch square
(2 square inches of surface counting both sides) at different current
densities (milliamps/square inch of surface). I have tried current
densities ranging from 10 to 100 milliamps/square inch. All tests
came out pretty well but the plate was matte white/gray rather than
shiny silver. The finish can be hand polished to look real nice but
that is an extra step and if I’m not careful, I can polish right
through the plate. I have three questions:
-
What is a typical, or recommended current density (ma/sq.in.) for
plating with this solution? -
How thick is a typical plate for something that will receive
little wear but is mainly for display? -
Do you know of some additive that will act as a brightener for
this solution? Rio does not offer one.
Thanks for any help. …Bob Williams