How to silver plate metal at home

Electroplating with silver at home: what is it, ways to coat any surface with precious metal

Greetings! Any product can be coated with metals, giving things the desired color, increasing wear resistance, and increasing reflected characteristics.

Electroplating with silver at home allows you to give a noble appearance and attractive shine, and impart antibacterial properties. I will tell you what this procedure is and how to carry it out as safely as possible.

What is this procedure and why is it needed?

Galvanization is an electrochemical process of decorative and protective painting of products with metals:

• silver;
• gold;
• zinc;
• copper;
• chrome;
• nickel

Helps strengthen the product and protect the surface of objects from corrosive processes, making their color attractive. The effect is achieved due to the diffusion (penetration of molecules) of the metal into the surface layer of objects, which allows the silver film to be securely fixed.

The essence of the process

The principle of electroplating is the application of one metal to another by electrolysis.

It takes place in several stages:

1. The correct composition is selected.
2. A pair of anodes is placed from the “plus” of the electric current source into the electrolyte (liquid with high conductivity).
3. The workpiece is immersed between the anodes, then connected to the “minus” of the electric current source.
4. The chain is closed.

In jewelry, silver electroplating is used for decorative purposes. It is in great demand in industrial sectors. If special reagents and materials are available, electroplating can be carried out at home.

Advantages and disadvantages

Pros:

• high penetrating ability of substances;
• galvanic coating increases the strength of the product;
• You can treat a surface of any complexity;
• uniform layer thickness, which can be adjusted;
• increasing decorative and reflective properties.

Minuses:

• low environmental friendliness;
• risk of harm to health;
• work only with materials that conduct current;
• high energy intensity.

Is it possible to plate silver with gold?

Gold plating is electroplating. To gild silver items, certain equipment is required. In addition, the labor-intensive process is an expensive service, hardly available at home: when covering the material with aurum, high-grade metal (750-999 samples) is used. It is best to go to a jewelry workshop to have the item processed by a professional.

What materials cannot be electroplated?

Electroplating at home cannot be done if the selected material does not conduct current well (dielectric or semiconductor).

Features of silver plating at home

Working with chemicals is a very dangerous activity, even for professionals. Accuracy must be observed in all actions related to the preparation of solutions and equipment, otherwise experiments with electroplating may result in loss of health.

Necessary materials and equipment

List of what is needed to carry out the procedure at home:

• protective equipment;
• power supply for a current of 30-50 A, with an ammeter, smooth adjustment and stabilization of current strength;
• 2 pieces of cable for connecting the anode and the part to the power supply;
• plastic basin;
• electric stove;
• glass or plastic dishes with a tight lid;
• electronic balance;
• thermometer with a range of 10130 °C.

Reagents needed for electroplating:

• 6 l 36% concentration of sulfuric acid (acid for refilling batteries);
• 2 kg sodium chloride (table salt);
• 100 g sodium bicarbonate (baking soda);
• 5 kg of sodium nitrate (sodium nitrate);
• 1 kg of sodium silicate (liquid glass, silicate office glue);
• 2 kg sodium carbonate (soda ash);
• 200 g of potassium ferric sulfide (yellow blood salt);
• 15-20 g of pure silver scrap;
• bottle of detergent.

Precautions when working with hazardous chemicals

Before carrying out the procedure, you should choose a suitable place. It is best to work with hazardous substances not at home, but in a garage or shed. A prerequisite is sufficient ventilation and the ability to organize grounding.

Of course, it is good to have special equipment for working with chemicals that protects the entire body. However, in its absence, the obligatory condition will be the purchase of the following items:

• respirator masks;
• transparent glasses;
• rubber gloves;
• an apron made of thick oilcloth.

During work, you should not eat or drink water to prevent harmful components from entering your stomach. If the procedure is carried out in the kitchen (which is very undesirable), then only if there is a hood without a filter.

All this is necessary, since electroplating involves the use of concentrated acids and the release of toxic gases. Therefore, you should not neglect safety.

Metal preparation

In order for the metal to cover the item with an even layer and reliably protect it, it should be carefully processed. If there are protrusions and corrosion, it is necessary to clean the object with emery cloth and sand it, then degrease the even surface of the object:

• heat the sodium phosphate solution to 90 °C;
• lower the item being processed;
• hold for 3-10 minutes.

Ways to do it at home

All products that do not have electrically conductive properties must be coated with graphite. The silver electroplating process, although very interesting, uses reagents that can cause harm to health, property and the environment. Therefore, before carrying out the procedure, you should choose the right place to ensure complete safety.

True, not all methods are like this. Let's look at popular ways to coat things with silver at home using electroplating.

Degreasing composition

Before starting the process, the products being processed must be degreased. To do this, you can use the recipe (values ​​are based on 1 liter of water):

• 120 g sodium hydroxide;
• 45 g soda ash;
• 4 g soluble glass.

Heat the solution to 80-100 °C and hold for 15-60 minutes (until all contaminants are removed).

Chemical method

This type of silver coating at home consists of finishing with a photo fixative solution. Mode of application:

1. mix hyposulfite with formaldehyde in proportions of 1 l/10 drops;
2. 5 ml of ammonia is added;
3. clean the item from grease and dirt;
4. immerse in the finished substance for 1.5 hours;
5. rinse, dry, wipe with soft fleece cloth.

The use of this method is considered gentle on health, since there is no strong release of chemical fumes. However, you should still take precautions to avoid getting a chemical burn.

Below watch a video about the chemical method of applying silver to products:

Using special pastes

Applying silver is a type of electroplating. The process does not require special equipment or work with hazardous chemicals, is suitable for products of any class, and the effect is achieved instantly. You can make a thick layer by performing the procedure 2-3 times:

1. degrease the part;
2. apply the paste thinly;
3. dry;
4. remove any remaining substance with water.

Permission is not required for purchase. The method is perfect for beginners, and the quality will not be inferior to similar procedures.

Silvering with heating of the workpiece

Cooking at home:

• Mix 100 g of argentum chloride with water;
• add 600 g of table salt and cream of tartar;
• Bring to a thick, homogeneous mass.

The resulting paste should be stored in a dark glass container.

Principle of use:

• dilute the mixture (3 tbsp) with boiling water (5 l) in a copper container;
• place the item in the grill for 15-20 minutes.

This method of electroplating with silver will not add brightness. To get shine, you should use another recipe:

• 100 g acetic acid;
• 300 g sulfur salt;
• 4.5 liters of water.

Preparation:

• boil water to 7580 °C;
• mix the ingredients and add to the liquid;
• put an item;
• cook for 15 minutes.

Immersion method of silvering

Equipment you will need:

• graphite rod;
• power unit;
• electrolyte for electroplating with silver.

Liquid composition:

• 1 liter of distilled water;
• 15 g yellow blood salt;
• 25 g soda ash;
• 15 g silver chloride.

Preparation:

• to boil water;
• mix the ingredients;
• cook for 2 hours.

Store the solution in a dark place and shake before use.

Conclusion

Watch how to do electroplating at home in the video.

Source: https://zhazhdazolota.ru/interesnoe/galvanika-serebrom-v-domashnih-usloviyah

Rules and various methods of home silvering

Silvering copper and brass at home does not require special skills or rare reagents. There are many techniques for coating another metal with silver. This is done in order to give it not only decorative properties: silver-plated metal will have other technical characteristics. The silvering process involves the ability of certain silver compounds to decompose in the presence of metals, releasing metallic silver.

Silver plating at home

Silver coating of metals has its own characteristics:

• The most commonly plated materials are brass, copper or zinc. Aluminum and some other metals lend themselves well to silvering.
• Brass lends itself best to silvering. Copper is much darker, which affects the color of the final product: due to the thin layer of silver plating, dark metal is visible. To avoid this, the products need to be coated with a thicker layer, and this is technologically more difficult.
• At home, this procedure should be performed in a well-ventilated area. The surface is first cleaned of grease, oil and dust using alkaline solutions.

There are several methods of silvering, some of them require special equipment, others are easy to do at home. The most common method is the chemical method of applying silver.

Chemical silver plating

The simplest technique is to place the prepared parts in a waste hyposulfite photographic solution. It is necessary to place the items on which silver is applied for 1.5 hours, then remove them and polish them. To obtain a shiny coating, the solution is adjusted. To do this, add 4–6 ml of ammonia and 4–6 drops of formaldehyde per 1 liter of used fixative.

Another method for silvering metal is to rub the part with matte photo paper in a fresh fixative solution. To do this, you need to cut sheets of photo paper into pieces and place them in the solution. Then lower the prepared product and rub it with an emulsion layer of paper until a silver coating appears. Afterwards, wash and wipe the product with a cloth.

Silvering when heated

There are several ways to coat a copper product at high temperatures.

For the first method, prepare a solution of six parts salt, one part silver chloride, and six parts cream of tartar. Add a little water to it until it becomes a paste. This solution should be stored in dark glass containers.

Copper products are placed in 5 liters of water, to which 3 tbsp is added. l. this solution and boil for 20 minutes. The silvering itself is carried out in a copper cauldron, into which objects are placed on a porcelain sieve, stirring continuously. The products are immediately covered with a silver film.

However, the method will not give a shiny coating; for this, the product must be kept for 10–15 minutes at a temperature of 70–80 degrees in a solution of four liters of water, 300 g of sodium sulfide salt and 100 g of lead acetate salt.

Brooch before and after silver plating

Silver plating using paste:

• A more dense coating is obtained by using silver nitrate, or lapis pencil. To do this, take 2 g of silver nitrate and dissolve it in 300 ml of water. Gradually, hydrochloric acid and table salt diluted with water 1:10 are added to the composition; do this until silver chloride in the form of flakes stops falling out. After this, the precipitate is filtered and washed. Next, the resulting silver chloride is added to a solution with 20 g of sodium hyposulfite and 100 ml of water. After the silver has finished dissolving, the mixture is filtered and mixed with chalk. The resulting paste is used to rub copper to obtain a silver coating.
• There is another way. Take 6 g of silver chloride and add 8 g of table salt and cream of tartar. This powder must be stirred and crushed in a mortar. The paste is prepared by dissolving in water.
• For the next method, the following ingredients are dissolved in water to obtain a paste: 2 g of cream of tartar, 4 g of ammonia and 1 g of silver nitrate.
• Silvering of copper can also be carried out with such a paste. Dissolve 10 g of silver nitrate in 50 g of water, then add a mixture of water (50 g) and potassium cyanide (25 g) to the solution. To obtain a paste, add a mixture of 10 g of cream of tartar and 100 g of chalk. After treatment with the paste, metal products are rinsed and dried.

It is recommended to store such compositions in powder form for no more than a year.

Galvanic silver plating

Another method of applying silver is using electroplating. The electrolyte in this case will consist of the following components:

• 10–15 g of silver chloride;
• 15–25 g of potassium iron-nitrogen;
• 15–25 g of soda ash;
• 1 liter of distilled water.

Each component is pre-dissolved in boiling water. Boil the components of the solution together for 1.5–2 hours. The temperature at which the galvanization process takes place is 18–20 degrees at a current density of 0.1 A/dm3. I use graphite plates as an anode.

The silvering process is simple and can be easily repeated. It is not only these metals that can be coated. In order to plate silver on a metal that cannot be silvered, you must first coat it with a thin layer of copper.

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Source: https://DedPodaril.com/serebro/info/serebrenie-v-domashnih-usloviyah.html

Silvering copper and brass at home

04.12.2018

The silver plating procedure at home can be performed in different ways. Moreover, most of them do not require any expensive chemicals or special devices. Many technologies allow processing using improvised means.

Special pastes

Silver plating of brass, copper and other metals can be done using a special paste. There are different techniques for performing galvanization. Silver plating in this case involves the use of a lapis pencil. But it is worth noting that this option is quite labor-intensive, so you will have to be patient. But as a result, you can get a dense and high-quality silver coating. To do this you need to do the following:

• First, a special solution is prepared, which consists of 300 ml of water, 2 g of silver nitrate;
• Next, a 10% aqueous solution of table salt is gradually added to the liquid, and it is added until a precipitate stops falling out - this substance is silver chloride;
• Now this precipitate needs to be collected, carefully filtered, and then washed;
• mix Ag with a new solution (100 ml of water and 20 g of sodium hyposulfite);
• the mixture is filtered again and mixed with tooth powder or chalk, but it is first crushed;
• The resulting creamy mixture must be rubbed onto the product, after which a thin silver film will form on it.

You can make another composition and use it to obtain galvanic silver. This mixture will also help restore the appearance of old jewelry or other silver items.

The composition includes the following components:

• silver chloride - 6 g;
• table salt - 8 g;
• potassium tartrate - 8 g.

All ingredients are thoroughly mixed and then thoroughly ground in a wooden mortar. This composition can be stored for a long time, but for this it must be kept in a dark glass bottle. To process it, you need to add a few drops of water to the prepared powder until it becomes mushy, and then rub the surface of the product that needs to be coated with silver with this mixture.

Silvering by heating

Silver plating can be carried out using other technologies. To carry out the procedure, you need to prepare a special solution. The list of required ingredients includes the following:

• silver chloride - 100 g;
• potassium bitartrate - 600 g;
• table salt - 0.6 kg.

All prepared substances are placed in one container and filled with water at the rate of 3 tablespoons of dry powder per 5 liters of water. Next, the dishes are placed on the fire and the liquid is brought to a boil; the items that need to be processed are placed in this solution and boiled for 30 minutes.

After this procedure, the metal surface of the products acquires a matte silver coating. To give galvanic silver its characteristic shine, it must be processed in a new solution. To create the mixture you need to prepare:

• water - 4.8 l;
• sulfide sodium salt - 300 g;
• vinegar-lead salt - 100 g.

The components are thoroughly mixed. And then they need to be heated to a temperature of 70-80 degrees. Place the necessary items in the liquid and keep them there for a quarter of an hour. After treatment, the metal surface becomes silver and acquires a characteristic shine.

There is another easy way to coat copper jewelry. It is also carried out by heating.

To make the solution you will need the following:

• water;
• silver chloride, it can be obtained from 25 g of silver nitrate;
• potassium bitartrate - 150 g;
• regular salt.

The resulting mixture in the amount of three tablespoons should be added to water (5 l) and brought to a boil. Objects that need to be silvered are dipped into a boiling solution in a special sieve made of clay or porcelain. During processing, it is necessary to continuously stir the liquid using a glass or wooden rod.

Immersion technology

Using this technique, a denser coating of silver can be obtained. To implement a procedure that involves electroplating, you need to prepare a solution containing the following components:

• aqueous solution of ammonium hydroxide - 70 ml;
• silver chloride - 10 g;
• crystalline soda - 40 g;
• potassium cyanide - 40 g;
• table salt - 15 g.

If everything is prepared and measured according to the recipe, then you can begin production. To do this, you need to mix all the ingredients with distilled water.

Add liquid until the volume of the solution reaches 1 liter. To carry out galvanization, it is necessary to place the products that are planned to be silvered in the solution, add small pieces of zinc or plates of this metal to them. Soak in liquid for several hours.

Some tips

In fact, the silvering process is not as simple as it might seem at the very beginning. The procedure has a number of features that must be taken into account when performing, they are as follows:

1. Most often, copper, brass or aluminum objects and products are subjected to the silvering procedure. During processing, these alloys, interacting with the solution, create a reaction, as a result of which they begin to release metallic silver. This is what allows this technological process to take place.
2. The easiest way to coat light metal surfaces with silver. If products made of dark metal are used, then it is necessary to apply a layer at least 10-15 micrometers thick, otherwise the dark surface will show through and spoil the appearance.
3. During the procedure, regardless of where it is carried out - at home or in a production facility, it is necessary to ensure good ventilation.
4. To achieve a higher quality silver coating, you need to thoroughly clean and degrease the surface to be treated.
5. It is advisable to apply special pastes that are used for silvering metal with a soft cloth or a small piece of leather.

These are the main methods of silver plating that can be used in an apartment. It’s quite possible to make them yourself, and the ingredients used for production are sold in the public domain.

Silvering copper and brass at home Link to main publication

Source: https://VseoMetallah.ru/serebro/serebrenie-v-domashnih-usloviyah

How to silver plate metal at home

Silvering copper and brass at home does not require special skills or rare reagents. There are many techniques for coating another metal with silver. This is done in order to give it not only decorative properties: silver-plated metal will have other technical characteristics. The silvering process involves the ability of certain silver compounds to decompose in the presence of metals, releasing metallic silver.

Silver plating at home

Silver coating of metals has its own characteristics:

• The most commonly plated materials are brass, copper or zinc. Aluminum and some other metals lend themselves well to silvering.
• Brass lends itself best to silvering. Copper is much darker, which affects the color of the final product: due to the thin layer of silver plating, dark metal is visible. To avoid this, the products need to be coated with a thicker layer, and this is technologically more difficult.
• At home, this procedure should be performed in a well-ventilated area. The surface is first cleaned of grease, oil and dust using alkaline solutions.

There are several methods of silvering, some of them require special equipment, others are easy to do at home. The most common method is the chemical method of applying silver.

Silvering metal at home - Metals, equipment, instructions

Applying silver to various things seems like a time-consuming and expensive task, but anyone can do it.

Yes, in professional production they use rare chemical reagents that are difficult to find on the open market, however, silvering products at home will not bring any hassle.

Before work, you will need to prepare a solution, or buy a similar one in a specialized store. Any decoration will turn out to be of high quality, and every beginner can handle the job.

You can silver plate products from almost any material, but more often this approach is used to restore metal chains, earrings, bracelets and other things. This processing is carried out using different approaches, and upon completion the element will not only acquire a new appearance, but also change its technical properties.

Silver plating at home

Silver plating using heat

Here 100g of argentum chloride, and 600g of table salt and cream of tartar are mixed with water. A thick mass should form, which is stored in a dark glass container.

Silver plating proceeds as follows: the mixture is diluted with boiling water, where the item is kept for 15-20 minutes. The connection takes place in a copper container, where things are lowered in a grid.

As for preparation, the combination is carried out in a ratio of 3 tablespoons of mass per 5 liters of liquid.

To make a bright layer, another technology is needed, where acetic (100 g) and sulfuric (300 g) salts are dissolved. Combine everything with 4.5-5 liters of water and cook at T=75-80°C for about 15 minutes. This method of applying silver will give a high-quality and shiny color.

Some alloys are not designed for such conditions, but this problem can be easily solved by applying a layer of cuprum.

The procedure is also carried out using galvanic and electrolytic methods, but only the essence changes.

Application of paste

Silver plating is an excellent and inexpensive type of improvement that can be used to plating silver on products of any class. The key advantages include instant action, and the product is suitable for both dishes and buttons, awards, figurines and more.

The paste is mixed until smooth, the part to be treated is wiped with solvent, and coated with a thin layer of paste. Next, time is given to dry, and the remaining silver is washed off. For a larger layer thickness, everything can be repeated 2-3 times.

If it dries out, you can dilute the composition with water.

This procedure can be used to silver plate brass, copper and other alloys, and this does not require specific skills or complex reagents.

The purchase and use of such a substance is possible without special permission; it is open for free sale and is excellent for beginners in home use.

As for quality, the products will not be inferior to analogues made by other methods.

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Source: https://spb-metalloobrabotka.com/serebrenie-metalla-v-domashnih-usloviyah/

Silver plating at home

Applying silver to various things seems like a time-consuming and expensive task, but anyone can do it. Yes, in professional production they use rare chemical reagents that are difficult to find on the open market, however, silvering products at home will not bring any hassle.

Before work, you will need to prepare a solution, or buy a similar one in a specialized store. Any decoration will turn out to be of high quality, and every beginner can handle the job. You can silver plate products from almost any material, but more often this approach is used to restore metal chains, earrings, bracelets and other things.

This processing is carried out using different approaches, and upon completion the element will not only acquire a new appearance, but also change its technical properties.

Silver plating at home

Silver plating at home - galvanic, chemical

Greetings! Any product can be coated with metals, giving things the desired color, increasing wear resistance, and increasing reflected characteristics.

Electroplating with silver at home allows you to give a noble appearance and attractive shine, and impart antibacterial properties. I will tell you what this procedure is and how to carry it out as safely as possible.

The essence and purpose of silvering

Silvering of metals, produced under any conditions, has not only decorative, but also practical purposes:

• silver has high hardness (up to 90 kg/mm²);
• conducts electricity well;
• resistant to the formation of oxides and rust.

The advantages of metal also include thermal conductivity and light reflection.

Silver is resistant to alkaline solutions and acids of organic origin. Even strong concentrations of sulfuric acid can only dissolve silver plating at 100 °C.

In a word, silvering of metals prevents premature destruction of the material, and under a layer of silver, alloys are less susceptible to various environmental influences.

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Thickness of silver plating depending on operating conditions and purpose of parts

Silver is resistant to alkaline solutions and most organic acids; concentrated sulfuric acid can dissolve the metal only when boiled, and hydrochloric acid only when heated significantly. Under the influence of ammonia and chlorine, a thin film is formed on the surface of silver, which increases the resistance values ​​and complicates the soldering process; the metal loses its advantages. To prevent negative phenomena, a special finishing technology is used.

The special physical and chemical characteristics of the coating determine the method of silvering and the specific area of ​​​​use of coatings; the coating is widespread, regardless of the high cost and scarcity of the metal.

Silvering of products is used to increase the reflective characteristics of optical and lighting devices, to reduce the contact resistance and parts in contact with each other, to increase resistance to corrosion processes and for decorative purposes in the manufacture of jewelry.

How silvering of copper and copper alloys is performed

The silvering process has a number of features that must be taken into account when performing it. These features are as follows.

• Silvering, as a rule, is applied to products made of copper, brass, aluminum, steel and a number of other alloys. Metallic silver is released from the solution for silvering upon contact with these metals and alloys, which makes it possible to effectively carry out such a technological process.
• The easiest way to plating silver is light metal. To prevent the darker surface of the base metal from showing through from under the applied silver layer, the thickness of such a layer should be at least 10–15 micrometers.
• Silvering at home or at a production site must be done in well-ventilated areas.
• In order for the silvering of brass, copper or any other metal to be of high quality, the surface to be treated must first be degreased.
• The paste used for silvering is applied using a piece of soft cloth or leather.

Necessary equipment

Galvanic processing of small products at home requires certain equipment and chemical reagents. The main list of equipment includes:

• DC power supply;
• capacity;
• electrolyte;
• scales;
• electrodes “anode” and “cathode”;
• the wire;
• electric stove.

Source: https://intehstroy-spb.ru/tehnologii/gal-vanicheskoe-serebrenie.html

Silver plating at home: a review of silver plating methods

Silvering of metal products can also be done at home. This procedure can be carried out qualitatively in various ways, and for the practical implementation of many of them you do not need to look for and buy expensive chemicals. You can prepare a solution for silvering copper products using available products, even at home.

The photo shows how the appearance of the product changes after silvering

Products coated with a layer of silver, like gold-plated metal, look very presentable, which explains the high popularity of this technological operation.

Silvering technology

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• Silvering technology"

Silver is used everywhere. Silver covers not only jewelry, but also cutlery, dishes, the surfaces of spotlights, car headlights, and mirrors. This is needed not so much for decorative purposes as for protective ones. A layer of noble metal protects objects from corrosion, increases electrical conductivity and reflectivity.

Possible silver plating methods

The main silvering technology is galvanic, with cyanide electrolytes. It ensures the durability of the coatings, and the thickness of the layer chosen varies depending on the method of silvering and the operating conditions of the treated items.

The most effective will be the use of combined electrolysis modes. Coatings with this procedure have a fine-grained structure, have increased wear resistance and anti-corrosion properties with a smaller layer thickness. Thanks to this, it is possible to use local application technology. It will save the amount of precious metal costs and, accordingly, reduce the cost of the product.

Another possible option is gold-plated silver. Gilding is safe, retains its original appearance for a long time, and is less susceptible to oxidation, corrosion and other damage. The price of items with this coating is less than their all-gold counterparts.

Another technique is rhodium plating of silver. Rhodium is an expensive precious metal; this noble material is even more expensive than gold. In jewelry production it is used for:

• giving the surface shine;
• protection against oxidation;
• protection against abrasion.

Rhodium is more practical and durable than almost all other options. After treatment with it, silver jewelry becomes eternal, because rhodium actively prevents oxidation and blackening of silver, which means they do not lose their outer shine longer. However, rhodium plating of silver is a complex procedure, which is why it is noticeably more expensive.

Any method requires prior activation. This process allows you to remove (chemically or electrochemically - depending on the properties of the metal and the chosen technology) even the thinnest films of oxides that form during use on the surface of products or parts. Thus, when immersed in a galvanic bath, cleaned objects will better accept the new coating.

Types of silver plating

There are also many options for silvering itself. The most popular is galvanic. This coating technology is carried out by electrolytic deposition. In jewelry, electroplating silver plating is used for the following purposes:

• decoration;
• reliable protection.

For electrolysis, electrolytes based on cyanide complexes are used. This silver cyanide increases the conductivity of the electrolyte.

Another option is chemical silvering without the use of current. This procedure is based on the recovery of silver from solutions of its complex salts. These solutions contain complex silver ions and a special reducing agent.

Removal of silver plating by electrolysis

Sometimes it is necessary to remove silver plating from copper or other metal. For example, such a procedure is necessary before applying a new coating. This metallurgical process separates the original metal from:

• all impurities;
• accumulated dirt;
• other elements.

One of the main methods is electrolysis, or electrolytic refining. It is carried out in forms made of plastic or sandstone with a solution of silver nitrate and nitric acid. When removing silver plating by electrolysis, the anode will be contaminated silver, but the cathode will be thin strips of stainless steel.

Source: https://6mkm.ru/nashi-tehnologii/serebrenie/tekhnologiia-serebreniia/

How to silver a spinner at home? — Fishing selections

Silvering of metal products can also be done at home. This procedure can be carried out qualitatively in various ways, and for the practical implementation of many of them you do not need to look for and buy expensive chemicals. You can prepare a solution for silvering copper products using available products, even at home.

The photo shows how the appearance of the product changes after silvering

Products coated with a layer of silver, like gold-plated metal, look very presentable, which explains the high popularity of this technological operation.