silver plating - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: malch
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2015, 04:39:01 pm
content: I am making up two probe tips 1mm x 4mm out of brass rod and would like to silver plate them.Any DIY ways without sending these to the States to get done?

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2015, 05:35:30 pm
content: Quote from: malch on February 08, 2015, 04:39:01 pmTry a music shop, a good one, they silver plate brass instruments.

author: Rory
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2015, 06:17:08 pm
content: You can try this. They sell in small quantities, but is not cheap.http://www.cool-amp.com/cool_amp.html

author: Teledog
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2015, 06:26:48 pm
content: Lacy West (Downtown Vancouver) has silver plating solution (and 1 MM sterling silver wire)http://www.lacywest.com/Or you could make your own plating solution with silver nitrate, etc., etc.

author: malch
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2015, 07:01:05 pm
content: 'Or you could make your own plating solution with silver nitrate, etc., etc.'That's what I was asking!!

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2015, 07:05:06 pm
content: I think metal plating is difficult to accomplish successfully. It's easy enough to get silver to deposit out of solution, but much harder to get a smooth, uniform and durable coat on the base metal. I think you would have to experiment a lot to get the process right, and silver nitrate is expensive.

author: Teledog
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2015, 07:42:23 pm
content: "The Electroplater's Handbook" has ~6 pages on making your own silver plate solution. starting with silver metal, converting to silver nitrate, converting to silver chloride, etc.The "etc." also means you need several other chemicals, including nitric acid, sodium & potassium cyanide - good luck with that!Much easier to buy a quart of pre-made solution for 30 bucks:http://lacywest.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=41_85_470_472&products_id=1421Or even easier, buy an inch of 1mm silver wire!

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2015, 01:10:00 am
content: Any proper jewelers in your area (those that do custom designs and repairs)?They typically have the equipment and supplies necessary.

author: IconicPCB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2015, 04:58:19 am
content: Forget plating. It will be too thin and not robust enough.Visit Your local welding supplies and ask for silver filler rod ( welding rod ) alternatively go to a Jeweller's and ask them to silver plate the bits.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2015, 05:35:37 am
content: Quote from: malch on February 08, 2015, 04:39:01 pmI guess this is for your Tek differential probe repair?First thing that comes to mind is why would you bother?Sure it would look nice, but is it really necessary?Silver is softer than brass, but not as conductive, but is that an issue for a probe where the currents might be in the uA region?

author: malch
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2015, 02:13:27 pm
content: Rory and Teledog, I'll look into it. Lacy looks promising.nanofrog, jewelers is on the list.The probe body is 1.43mm and the tip is .78mm.[1/16" x 1/32"]The body OD has to be cut down .006" [.15mm] to fit the probe holder.tautech yes it is the TEK probe replacements and they were silver plated.I could tin them with solder. tricky- the tinning job has to be very thin.The idea is to reduce the corrosion by plating- and cosmetics.Thank you all for your ideas.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2015, 05:07:28 pm
content: If you are making probes silver is about the worst thing to coat them with, as it oxidises so easily. However silver brazing rods are easy enough to get, and are a pretty hard alloy, and will work well here. Best though is to make them then get them gold plated.

author: malch
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2015, 07:17:40 pm
content: The grounding collar is gold plated.

author: Nerull
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2015, 09:12:51 pm
content: Silver is one of the worst metals in common use for corrosion resistance. Are you sure the originals are silver plated?

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2015, 09:20:06 pm
content: Platinum plating would be better you can do this yourself.http://youtu.be/q9kfswSo9aY

author: malch
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2015, 09:22:31 pm
content: Yup it's silver, turns black.The good news is silver corrosion is conductive.

author: malch
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2015, 09:46:31 pm
content: G7PSK that video is questionable. I got lots of hard drive disks.Vinegar, hydrogen peroxide,disks and a low voltage PSU.edit: "immersion silver deposition" doesnt work - too thin and rubs off.

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2015, 09:11:26 am
content: Well how about doing it properly with some of this.http://www.goldn.co.uk/platinum-plating-solution/or thishttp://www.goldn.co.uk/platinum-brush-plating-solution/The thing about platinum is it wears well as it is hard.