Nickel plating refers to the process of applying a protective layer of nickel or nickel alloy to protect an object. If you are interested in doing it at home, the only option you can try is the electroplating method, although there are also paid services that offer alternatives to this method. There are two main reasons to coat an object with nickel – to protect or enhance its appearance. Whether you're looking to beautify antique jewelry or protect the bolts on your old bike from rust, read on to understand the process of nickel plating objects.
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Method 1 of 10: Can I do nickel plating myself at home?
Step 1. You can, but you must wear gloves and eye protection
You only need 2 nickel anodes which can be purchased online. You'll also need white vinegar and an alligator clip as a battery or power source. Make sure the ventilation in the room you're working in is good enough by opening the windows and turning on the fans. Wear rubber gloves, a dust mask, and protective goggles.
This process is known as electroplating. This is the only way to plate nickel yourself at home with makeshift tools. There are other, more effective ways to do nickel plating, but you'll need to pay for a professional to do it
Method 2 of 10: How to prepare equipment for nickel plating?
Step 1. Fill a glass container with vinegar and a pinch of salt
Hang two nickel pieces around the rim of the container so that they are half submerged. Take the power cord and use alligator clips to connect the positive and negative wires to the nickel piece. Connect the positive wire to one piece of nickel and connect the negative wire to the other piece. Plug in the power cord and wait.
- As a power source, you can use a battery with a capacity of 6 to 12 watts. You can also purchase special resources that come with ready-to-use alligator clips. If you want a more creative way, you can split the phone's charging cable, separate the two cables inside, and then attach the cable to the nickel.
- As long as the power source is not more than 1 ampere, you should be fine.
Method 3 of 10: How to do nickel plating on an object?
Step 1. Soak the nickel after the vinegar turns green
A mixture of salt, vinegar, and a charged nickel anode will create a lot of electrolytes so that the liquid you are using turns green. After that happens, clean the metal object to be coated and unplug the power cord on the nickel. Leave the positively charged nickel in place and remove the negatively charged nickel. Hang your object with a copper wire and dip it in the vinegar.
- The nickel plating process takes about 20 minutes.
- Hanging the object in the center of the vinegar will prevent it from sinking to the bottom of the container. If this happens, the nickel coating will not stick evenly across all sides of the object.
Method 4 of 10: Does the nickel coating wear off?
Step 1. Yes, this coating will wear off over time
However, this usually takes a very long time and requires a large amount of intensity. There are two advantages to nickel plating. First, the results will generally look cool. Second, the layer can protect an object from damage. So, even if the nickel layer will eventually wear off, it will take a very long time and be a sign that the coating has successfully protected the surface of an object.
Method 5 of 10: Does nickel plating cost a fortune?
Step 1. It depends entirely on the object and method you are using
There are several different ways to coat an object with nickel. Coating on computer components is certainly more difficult than coating bicycle bolts. Fortunately, most nickel plating services offer free service pricing. Call some of the closest services and find out their service fees to find the one that fits your needs.
If you do electroplating yourself at home, you only need to buy two nickel anodes. You may also need to buy two alligator clips, but these shouldn't cost you more than tens of thousands of dollars
Method 6 of 10: How to tell if there is a nickel layer on an object?
Step 1. Scratch the object and soak it in salt water for 24 hours
Nickel-plated objects will corrode in salt water so that the color changes significantly. However, 100% pure nickel will not corrode or discolor.
If you don't want to risk damaging the item being tested, take it to a jeweler and have him have it checked. The expert can certainly determine whether the object is made of pure nickel or not
Method 7 of 10: What color does the nickel plating process produce?
Step 1. If you do the plating yourself at home, the resulting color is silver, just like regular nickel
If the process is not done 100% correctly, the nickel will appear slightly yellowed. The type of layer you create will affect the texture of the object, not the color. A homemade nickel coating will look bright and shiny. Meanwhile, other methods that are done professionally can produce a layer with a pale or solid color.
A professional nickel plating service can add color to the finished coating. The layer can be given any color
Method 8 of 10: Is nickel a toxic material that should not be touched?
Step 1. No, but this material can be toxic to people with nickel allergies
If you are allergic to nickel and touch an object coated with the material, you could develop contact dermatitis. Your skin may develop a red rash, itchy, or turn red and dry. These symptoms usually go away on their own, but you should contact your doctor if they get worse.
Nickel is generally found in small amounts in air, water, and various household products. As long as you don't swallow or smear your body with nickel, you'll be fine
Method 9 of 10: Is nickel plating better than chromium plating?
Step 1. Use nickel if you want to provide a protective layer and use chromium if you want to make an object look slicker
If the object you want to buy a coating for is often exposed to liquids and chemicals, you should use nickel. Chromium is a little harder, but nickel is enough to coat an object and doesn't make a huge difference. The main reason for using chromium plating is to enhance the appearance of an object. The material is more shiny and reflective, and has a blue glow when exposed to light.
Plating objects with chromium is usually more expensive, but this also depends on the type of nickel plating you are using
Method 10 of 10: How to wear off the nickel coating?
Step 1. Purchase a non-toxic nickel bleach product and soak the object to be cleaned
Rinse the object until clean. Follow the instructions on the nickel bleach package to heat it up. Usually, you need to heat the liquid to 60°C. After that, soak the nickel plated object in the solution for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the object with tongs or a wooden spoon, then rinse thoroughly. Finished!
- You can buy nickel-leaching liquid online.
- There are other ways to wear off the nickel coating, but these generally require you to charge the sulfuric acid with the anode. In other words, it's more complicated and dangerous than just using a laxative.
