Which electrode should I use?
Choosing the right electrode for brush plating
Choosing the right electrode for the kind of brush plating you intend to do can help you saving money as well as achieve good plating results.
If you are silver brush plating using a silver electrode can help your silver brush plating solution last longer, as some of the silver in the electrode is used in the plating process, along with the silver in the silver brush plating solution.
We sell a large range of different electrodes in different sizes. Our Large and Extra Large Flat Electrodes are great for brush plating large, flat areas. They really speed up plating time and help you to ensure you're plating to a high standard.
The table below will help you to quickly decide which electrode to use for your selected plating job.
Electrode Picker
| Plating Process | 1st Choice of Electrode | 2nd Choice of Electrode |
|---|---|---|
| Chrome Stripping | Stainless Steel | NA |
| ActiCleaning/Activating | Carbon | Platinum |
| Copper plating | Copper | Carbon |
| Black chrome Plating | Carbon | NA |
| Silver plating | Silver | Platinum/Carbon |
| Gold plating | Platinum | Carbon |
| Nickel plating | Nickel | Carbon |
| White palladium plating | Platinum | Carbon |
| Rose Gold Plating | Carbon | NA |
- When chrome stripping, only the stainless steel electrode should be used.
- The carbon electrode can be used for a range of plating processes but it will wear out with use and discolour your swab (this hasn’t any effect on the quality of plate).
- The platinum electrode plates to a very high standard and won’t wear down or discolour your swab.
Electrode Maintenance
You may find that with regular use and over an extended period of time, some dulling or staining may build up on your electrodes. To remove any marks that can’t be easily wiped off, connect the wand handle that has been fitted with a platinum electrode to the red lead and join a stainless steel electrode (with a swab) to the end of a black lead and brush at 5 to 7 volts with ActiClean. Carry on brushing until all marks have been removed.
NB Do not use any form of abrasive material to remove dull patches or staining, as this will damage the surface of your electrode and impair plating.
2 responses to “Choosing the right electrode for brush electroplating”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Can I use a stainless steel electrode in my brush if I brush plate copper?
I plan on having a drip, or steady stream of solution aimed at the brush while brush plating.
Will the stainless electrode work or will it cause issues?
The best policy would be to use either copper or carbon as an electrode as stainless steel will dissolve resulting in a discoloured and stressed coating.