NICKEL ELECTROPLATING KITS

Nickel Plating has been successfully carried out since the 1800’s to provide a protective coat of nickel to various metals. Besides providing protection to the metal surface it is also attractive in appearance and can be buffed to a high lustre. In a lot of cases, it has taken the place of chrome as it is user-friendly and chemical mixes can be employed that do not require the addition of cyanide. Nickel provides excellent corrosion protection to the plated surface especially if it is polished occasionally with metal polish.

The transfer of the nickel metal on to the part to be plated (the cathode) is achieved by electrolysis.

The Nickel Plating chemical or electrolyte used in Jane Kits is a sulphate/ chloride bath. It does not contain dangerous chemicals or cyanides. The bath is mildly acidic running at a PH value of 3.5 to 4.8 under normal conditions. It is based on the old and well tried Watt’s nickel bath. This bath is a very robust bath that will produce very good results over a very long period of time.

Minute ions of the nickel are removed from the anodes (R rounds) hanging in the bath and transferred to the plating work (cathodes) during the nickel plating process. Over the period of 60 minutes, approximately 1 thousandth of an inch of nickel plate will be applied to the cathodes resulting in an attractive coat of nickel. The deposition of metal is directly proportional to the time in the bath and to the amount of electrical current flowing through the bath. The best results are obtained using plating time of 45 minutes to an hour. Exceptionally long plating periods can lead to rough plating. If for any reason a part is required to be plated for a very long period, a very low current setting should be used.

The plating bath requires DC current to be run through the bath to affect a transfer of metal to be plated from the anodes hanging in the bath to the parts to be plated (the cathode) which are also hanging in the bath. The part to be plated is known as the plating work or job. The cathode is the correct name for this piece. The only other items that should be hanging in the bath are the anodes. For our small 4 litre Kit there are 10 anodes, generally, 5 hanging either side of the plating jobs or cathode/s. In theory, under normal conditions, 1 amp will plate an area of 160 square centimetres or 25 square inches.

The Nickel Plating electrolyte or chemical needs to be at an optimum temperature for successful plating. The ideal temperature is 50 to 60 degrees Celsius. Yet it can be successfully plated at a temperature as low as 40 degrees C. However, some of the chemical’s crystals will not dissolve at this temperature. Therefore, for example, if you choose to attempt to Nickel plate at a temperature of around 40 degrees C, first you will need to ensure all of the chemicals dissolve and this will only take place at temperatures above 50 degrees C. This means you will need to heat your Nickel Plating chemical. The best way to achieve this is by placing your chemical into a stainless steel container and externally heating it with a naked flame. (small gas portable camping stove is ideal). The temperature needs to remain within this range. A thermometer is included in the kit to manage this.

Jane Kits have four stock sizes of Nickel Plating Kits available:

4 Litre Nickel Plating Kit –

10 Litre Nickel Plating Kit –

20 Litre Nickel Plating Kit –

30 Litre Nickel Plating Kit –

Although these are stock sizes, we will be happy to provide any other size you may require. If you wish to purchase a larger size than the stock sizes listed, please email your request to sales@janekits.com.au

Jane Kits also sell combination Kits, called DUAL and TRIPLE KITS, which combine multiple plating options together in a single Kit. These Kits provide a cost-effective option if you need to create more than one finish. See the Categories section on our Home page for more information and to order.

KIT CONTENTS

4 LITRE KIT

1 x Power supply –power supply and connecting leads.
1 x Bag Nickel Plating green crystal chemical marked as ‘4 Ltr Nickel Mix’.
1 x Bottle of Nimac (a nickel brightener. Add 5 ml for every 1 litre of electrolyte in the bath).
1 x Bag nickel anodes (10 R round anodes).
1 x Pair anode baskets – Stainless steel anode baskets.
3 x Aluminium pipes – used as hanging pipes for anodes & job pieces to be plated.
1 x Bridge wire – Red electrical wire with red alligator clips attached at each end (used for bridging the two anode hanging pipes together).
1 x Copper wire roll – used to hang job pieces to be plated.
1 x Bundle of stainless wire – used to hang anodes on.
1 x LCD thermometer.
1 x Pair of gloves.
1 x bottle Clear Shield lacquer.
1 x Jane Kits plating manual.

The only items you need to add to successfully plate are:
* A plating container (Stainless steel or similar)
* Water for mixing your chemical in.

10 LITRE KIT

1 x Power Supply –power Supply and connecting leads.
1 x Bag Nickel Plating green crystal chemical marked as ‘10 Ltr Nickel Mix’.
1 x Bottle of Nimac (a nickel brightener. Add 5 ml for every 1 litre of electrolyte in the bath).
2 x Bags nickel anodes (20 R round anodes).
2 x Pair anode baskets – Stainless steel anode baskets.
3 x Aluminium pipes – used as hanging pipes for anodes & job pieces to be plated.
1 x Bridge wire – Red electrical wire with red alligator clips attached at each end (used for bridging the two anode hanging pipes together).
2 x Copper wire rolls – used to hang job pieces to be plated.
1 x Bundle of stainless wire – used to hang anodes on.
1 x LCD thermometer.
1 x Pair of gloves.
1 x bottle Clear Shield lacquer.
1 x Jane Kits plating manual.

The only items you need to add to successfully plate are:
* A plating container (Stainless steel or similar)
* Water for mixing your chemical in.

CLEANING & PREPARATION

With all Jane Kits products, the key to successful plating is in the preparation of the items to be plated. Parts must be chemically clean. In order to ensure that you get pleasing and consistent results, Jane Kits sell very efficient Cleaner Kits (see cleaners). Thorough cleaning is essential in the preparation of parts prior to electroplating.

CONTENTS

The Nickel chemical contents you receive will be in a bag containing green chemical in crystal form and 1 bottle of liquid. The bottle will be marked Nimac. The bag of crystals has various chemicals mixed together and the entire contents should be mixed with water. The final volume is the size of the bath that you are setting out to make up. For example, a 4 litre baths final volume is 4 litres and for 10 litre bath it is 10 litres and so on.

To make up the bath take half the water required for the final volume and dissolve the crystals in the bath by stirring them in. Warm water is the best for dissolving the chemical. When the chemical is dissolved top up the mix with distilled water until you have exactly the amount required for the final volume. Do not add more water than what is required.

The bottle of Nimac is used as a nickel Brightener and is added initially at the rate of 5 ml per litre of bath size. It is then added as you go when the brightness of the Nickel bath diminishes.

NOTE only use deionised, demineralised, distilled or rainwater to create your plating bath. Do not use tap water. It may have too many additives that will contaminate your bath.

NICKEL ANODES & BASKETS

The Nickel anodes used in the Jane Kits nickel bath are known as Nickel R rounds. These rounds are pellets of first grade nickel. The anodes should be kept clean by washing and scrubbing them periodically. Included in the Nickel Kit are lengths of special grade stainless steel expander mesh, that are used for the anode baskets. The mesh is in the shape of a V and the nickel anodes are positioned along the inside of the V. Generally, 5 individual Nickel anodes are placed evenly along each anode basket. Once all the anodes are positioned inside of the V, close the two top edges of the baskets together using one end of a piece of the supplied stainless wire.

For a 4 litre Kit, you will have two separate anode baskets. A 10 Litre Kit will have 4 baskets. These baskets are positioned on each side of the plating bath and are attached to the anode hanging bars by making a U shape or twist on the end of the stainless wire and hang them either side of your job/s. The anodes and baskets should be kept clean. Nickel anodes get a film of smut on them during plating. This film is normal; clean them between jobs plating and at the commencement of a day’s plating.

PLATEABLE METALS

Nickel Plating is designed to plate directly onto steel, brass, lead or copper.

Nickel Plating will not plate directly onto stainless steel, zincated aluminium, or die cast zinc surfaces without a separate strike. Jane Kits supplies an Ultra Strike Kit that is a non-cyanide, alkaline Copper Plating process designed to plate onto these metals and will act as a strike for Nickel Plating. (see ‘Electroplating Kits’ for more information on Ultra Strike)

DISCLAIMER

JANE KITS do not accept any responsibility for any injuries or for any ill effects resulting from the careless or improper use of any of our products. No responsibility will be accepted for any injuries or for any ill effects or accidents resulting from the improper storage or lack of your safety markings on our products.

All products should be used with care and as per the instructions in this Plating Manual. All MSDS are available on request.

NOTE Care should be taken by the bath operator no matter what type of bath is being used. Avoid allowing chemicals to remain on your skin for long periods. Safety glasses and clothing that covers arms and legs should also be worn. A well-ventilated room is necessary and avoid inhaling fumes that are present during the plating or mixing processes. A suitable respirator is recommended.