• Customer support (DE + EN)
  • Free delivery from 150 € (DE)
  • Secure payment

New to electroplating? Valuable tips for implementing the first project

If this is your first time with electroplating or you are more of a novice, we will be happy to guide you through the process so that your first electroplating projects are guaranteed to succeed. If you do not yet have the necessary equipment, we offer a range of starter and basic sets that enable you to get started easily and directly in the exciting field of surface coating using the Do-It-Yourself process. It is also best to familiarise yourself with our [Electroplating Guide].

Material determination as preparation - what material do I have in front of me?

In order for you to be able to electroplate an object yourself, a metallic and conductive object is a basic requirement. In order to be able to deposit gold and other metals, an electric current must be possible. Normally, you will find out what material your object is made of when you buy it - alternatively, you can determine the metal yourself with the help of a few [tips] (link to material determination). If you want to coat a non-metallic object, [find help here] (link to copper conductive lacquer?). If a material is not compatible at all, we always recommend our universal solution for coating non-metallic objects: Copper conductive lacquer > copper plating > barrier layer (palladium) > desired metal.

Choosing the right electrolyte for your electroplating project

Surely you already know which metal you want to coat your object with. After you have successfully checked the metal for compatibility with our products, it remains to choose the correct electrolyte. In the description of each electrolyte you will find the information about compatibility with different metals. Note that we may offer different electrolytes, each optimised for a different processing method (bath or pin plating). The size of electrolyte required depends on the surface of the object to be plated and the process chosen. For bath electroplating you need more electrolyte liquid than for pen or brush electroplating.

The right pre- and post-treatment for a perfect coating result

If you want to get the perfect result at the end of your coating process, follow these valuable tips:

It is also essential to follow the safety instructions given in the application instructions. Safety goggles, mask and gloves are indispensable for any electroplating process.

Short version

  1. Determine the material of the object to be coated and check for compatibility.
  2. Select the correct electrolyte in the right size for the electroplating process.
  3. Carry out pre- and post-treatment. Wear protective clothing. Intermediate polishing if necessary.

Frequently asked questions

Aluminium and titanium are suitable for anodising. We recommend our products exclusively for aluminium.

Our products cover the majority of the most common aluminium alloys. However, the industry is constantly evolving. For an overview table of compositions suitable for anodising, please see our anodising guide.

In this case, the concentration of the colour solution is not high enough. We recommend 10g/L. Also possible: the alloy is not or only insufficiently suitable for anodising. You can find an overview table on this in our instructions for anodising.

When anodising, the surface area of the workpiece is calculated in dm² and multiplied by 1.5. This gives the necessary amperage for your project. As soon as you set this on your machine, the voltage regulates itself automatically.

No. Only the aluminium piece and titanium wire may be immersed in the solution with the anodising bath. The alligator clips must not come into contact with the bath.

Our bluing agents primarily create a black coloured surface that is not a real coating but inhibits the existing surface of steel, stainless steel or aluminium. Corrosion protection is only achieved if the blackened layer is oiled or painted at the end.

This is most likely because the remnants of the bluing agent have not been rinsed off cleanly enough. This causes components of the bluing to crystallise on the surface and form a reddish-brown layer that looks like rust. Make sure that residues of the bluing liquid are completely removed at the beginning and end and that the surface is clean. Repeat the blackening process and wash off the bluing chemical carefully and completely at the end!

If the blackened layer does not last, there are several options. 
1. If the surface is nano-coated or covered with an invisible clear varnish, this layer must be removed so that the bluing liquid can adhere.
2. The surface may be made of an incompatible material. 
3. The pre-treatment may not have been carried out thoroughly enough. Bluing will only work on a clean surface, free of dust, dirt and other contaminants. 
4. The bluing agent may have been too concentrated. Depending on the product, you may dare to dilute it with water.

Our product range currently allows us to burnish the following materials: Iron, steel, zinc, aluminium and various non-ferrous metals. Check the product detail page for compatibility with the material you have.

If the patination does not last, there are several options. 
1. If the surface is nano-coated or covered with an invisible clear varnish, this layer must be removed so that the patination can adhere. 
2. The surface may be made of an incompatible material. 
3. The pre-treatment may not have been carried out thoroughly enough. The patination will only work on a clean surface, free of dust, dirt and other contaminants. 
4. The patination may have been too concentrated. Depending on the product, you may dare to dilute with water.

You have to multiply the current density recommended for the respective electrolyte by the surface area of the workpiece in dm² and then get the required current intensity. The voltage will readjust when the current is set accordingly.

This varies from electrolyte to electrolyte. If the anodes are made of the same material as the salt in the electrolyte solution (e.g. copper, nickel, silver, zinc), the salt content remains constant because the anode dissolves slowly but steadily. However, the electrolyte is still contaminated at some point and brighteners (if present) are used up.

Certain electrolytes can be diluted. The gold electrolytes Flash and Midas can be diluted in a ratio of up to 1:1. However, the speed of deposition and the shine then decrease rapidly.

The anodes should be at least as large as the surface of the object to be coated. The supply of 2 anodes (left and right) has been proven to give better results.

If you want to coat from both sides at the same time, you should place an anode in the tank on each side and place the workpiece in the middle. The deposition is then more uniform than with the method with only one anode.

The depletion of the electrolyte can be recognised by the slowing deposition. The colouring of the gold electrolyte Midas, for example, does not indicate that the electrolyte has been used up.

For gold and palladium: stainless steel or graphite. For copper (basic and acidic): Copper. For nickel electrolyte: nickel. For silver electrolyte: silver. For zinc electrolyte: zinc. For chrome electrolyte: not compatible with bath electroplating.

No, unfortunately that is not possible. Our chrome electrolyte only works in conjunction with the brush process (tampon electroplating).

Yes, this is possible with the help of our conductive copper varnish. The object is sprayed or brushed with copper conductive paint or copper conductive lacquer spray, which first creates a metallic layer. The object is then given its final conductivity in a galvanic bath with acidic bright copper electrolyte. This creates a continuous, conductive copper layer that can then be further treated like any other copper layer, e.g. by silver plating.

Rust Piranha can normally be painted over or treated further. However, please check on an inconspicuous spot whether the rust converter is compatible with your paint colour.

Our products for electroless silver plating only deposit on copper and brass as a base, as the products can only deposit silver with these materials. Accordingly, the products for electroless silver plating can NOT be deposited on silver. If copper or brass are coated, a thin silver layer of 200 - 300 nm is produced, which is intended for decorative purposes only. If you want a thicker silver layer on your object, the only process left is electroplating!

No, unfortunately that is not possible with these products.

In principle, it is possible to gold-plate some aluminium alloys with the Gold Star, but so far this only works with a few compositions. The success of the application can therefore not be guaranteed for all aluminium alloys.

The zinc object must be clean and free of residues such as dirt, oil or particles. The object is then degreased, e.g. with the TIFOO Galvano Degreaser. Depending on the size, the object is immersed in the yellow chromate for a few minutes. 3 minutes is a good guideline.