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Frequently Asked Questions About Brush Electroplating

  1. Why should I buy from Spa Plating?
  2. Is brush plating difficult?
  3. Is the process economical to use?
  4. Is this suitable for industry and serious business use?
  5. Is it a franchise or do you offer a business plan?
  6. Is this process actually electroplating?
  7. Will you make up a kit specifically to my request?
  8. How do I prepare the article to be plated?
  9. How does the brush-plated deposit compare to the tank-plated one?
  10. Do I have to remove car badges before I can gold plate them?
  11. Can I plate onto plastic and other non-conducting materials?
  12. Can I plate directly onto aluminium or zinc?
  13. How can I establish if a surface is conductive?
  14. Do you make your own chemicals?
  15. What is the output voltage from the machine?
  16. What is the shelf live of the solutions?

Why should I buy from Spa Plating?

1. Spa Plating specialises in brush and pen plating. We are fully qualified in what we do and pride ourselves in supplying top-quality products that won't let you down. Our policy is one of continual improvement and have an in-house chemist who is actively working to improve existing and new products.

2. When buying from us you can rest-assured you will get full technical backup from the staff at Spa Plating. We are a leading specialist in the field of brush plating technology. If you are considering entering into this field or upgrading to our system with our products, then being able to contact someone who understands your requirements and who can guide you through the technology is a major benefit.

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Is brush plating difficult?

Brush plating is a simple method of electroplating. However, it will take a small amount of time to master. It is less hazardous than tank plating and therefore more environmentally friendly. We recommend that you start off with simple objects that are already chrome plated and in good condition to get a feel for the process. As experience is gained you can move onto more adventurous objects later.

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Is the process economical to use?

For plating a limited number of single items and for small production runs, brush plating beats its tank plating counterpart every time. Gone is the need to purchase the heavy plant associated with electroplating tanks and gone is the need to maintain and heat large volumes of expensive plating solution. You only use what's on the brush with our system. To make sure of this, we have developed a product that thickens the plating solution--Thickener--which makes sure that it all stays where it should be and doesn't drip away.

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Is this suitable for industry and business use?

Yes, the industrial and business applications of brush plating are vast. We sell to a broad spectrum of businesses including jewelers, motor, mechanical and space engineers, electronic design engineers, printed circuit board repair specialists, and satellite manufacturers to name but a few. Schools, colleges and universities are also making use of the advantages of brush electroplating as it is far cheaper and safer compared to tank plating.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for more information on the suitability of our products for your application.

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Is it a franchise or do you offer a business plan?

No, it isn't a franchise and we do not offer a business plan as much of this information is available FREE.  We recommend that you only seek unbiased professional assistance in writing a business plan. Many business plan guidelines are available FREE online through the various banking organisations etc, for you to download.
We have not felt it necessary to offer a franchise as we already have 1000’s of customers already using our systems worldwide.

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Is this process actually electroplating?

Yes this process is electroplating. A French scientist initially developed the process in 1938. It has been used in industry for about 50 years.

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Will you make up a kit specifically to my request?

Of course. We recognize that we are unable to list every eventuality for the perceived use of our products. We are extremely flexible in this area and will make up any kit to a specific request. Advice is freely available by our qualified staff to make sure the correct decision and the best possible package is put together for it's intended use.


How do I prepare the article to be plated?

Usually, if the work is already chrome plated, all that needs to be done is the chrome stripped using our purpose made chemicals, cleaned and activated. The same situation applies for articles that are already in a good state of polish. There are however many instances, especially for our operators plating antiques, where the articles may be in need of polishing. This subject is discussed in detail on the Techniques page.

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How does the brush-plated deposit compare to the tank-plated one?

More versatile and not restricted to object size in comparison to tank size.  Brush plating has come a long way and tends to be harder wearing than tank plated deposits. In the hands of a skilled operator, there is no reason for the brush plating results not to exceed those of tank-plated objects. Our plating chemicals have been specifically researched and developed over a period of 12 years by our in-house qualified chemist to ensure premium quality results.

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Can I plate onto plastic and other non-conducting materials?

Solid  plastic objects may be plated using our brush plating kit. This is a very specialized process that requires expert training and advice.
Training courses are currently unavailable in Australia.

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Can I plate directly onto aluminum or zinc?

We do not have a process for plating directly onto aluminium or zinc at present.

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Do I have to remove car badges before I can gold plate them?

No, car badges can be plated in situation. We recommend that they be in good condition before you commence this type of work. Our chemicals are the least hazardous and non-corrosive on the market. This ensures that no damage can be done to surrounding paintwork etc.

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How can I establish if a surface is conductive?

We offer a simple to use electrical multimeter. This is available in our online shop so that you can easily test for conductivity before you start plating. It comes complete with fully-illustrated instructions.

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Do you make your own chemicals?

All of our chemicals have been researched and developed and tested over a long period of time; we mix all of them ourselves. Our policy is one of continual development which means that you, the customer, can be assured of ongoing supplies of superior quality. We have been established for over twenty years and pride ourselves in being at the forefront of decorative brush plating technology.

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What is the output voltage and current (amps) of the machine?

The output is variable, usually 4 volts is used for silver plating, 10-12 volts for gold and up to 15 for chrome stripping. The machine (rectifier) can deliver a maximum continuous current of 25 amps.

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What is the shelf life of the solutions?

The shelf life of most solutions is 5 years. The shelf live of gold and silver plating solution is 2 years.


 

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