Electroless Nickel

[Marc Roberts]

I am wondering if anyone can comment on experience with replatng parts with an electroless nickel bath like the product from Caswell. I was aware of their electroplating kits and had convinced myself to try one, but then I stumbled onto their electroless process, and now I have a whole new decision to make.

[otrcman]

I have just one experience with the Caswell electroless nickle process and it was generally good.

I had made a part that needed to be knurled on one end. I didn't have a beefy enough lathe for the task, so I took it to one of my friend's shop. After we did the knurling, Don showed me the plating kit that he'd just gotten. He was anxious to try it out, so we plated my steel part.

The part didn't plate up as quickly as the instruction implied, but in time it did turn very uniform and shiny.

Dick

[jiminbartow]

Of course when plating, the results will only be as good as the preparation of the part to be plated. If you take a lot of time to buff the part to a mirror shine with jewelers rouge and a buffing wheel mounted on the bench grinder, your plating will be a mirror finish as well. If however, you don’t take the necessary time to buff the part to a shine, but are only satisfied with a dull, scratched surface, the nickel plated surface will be no better than the underlying surface and might as well be spray painted with silver paint, so don’t be in a hurry and keep buffing until you can see the room behind you reflected in the buffed surface. Buff until you are satisfied, then buff a little more. Jim Patrick

[Mike Thomas]

I have used Caswell for several years. They have good products, good customer support, and it works really well. It is not fool proof, as it is somewhat of a skill, just like painting. But with practice you get better. You will need a good buffer and supplies to get good results. As mentioned earlier prep is critical, just like prep for painting determines the final result. A good plating job involves cleaning, flash copper plate, fill copper plate, and finally the nickle plate. You can purchase their book which explains it all, without buying a kit. Bottom line, if you just want a couple of things plated, send it off to a good plater. If you want to learn a new skill, and experience the pride in doing it yourself, jump in!

[RGould1910]

I've had good luck with Caswell black oxide solution. Photo below is a brass top from a coil.

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

Electroless nickel is best for parts with a complicated geometry. Electroplating is bad for reaching into hard-to-reach places. The prime example is nickel plating the cooling fins on an old motorcycle cylinder. With electroplating, it's nearly impossible to get nickel deep into the spaces between the fins. Electroless nickel however goes everywhere, evenly. That being said, I have never personally done either form of plating with Caswell, or any other brand, kits.

[Susanne]

Thanks, Jerry... I have an early 20's Harley and I was (seriously) tempted to get the jugs electroplated, but knowing this, I think I'll get an electroless set up.

Question - how do I keep the nickel from the inside of the jugs doing this?

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

Thanks, Jerry... I have an early 20's Harley and I was (seriously) tempted to get the jugs electroplated, but knowing this, I think I'll get an electroless set up.

Question - how do I keep the nickel from the inside of the jugs doing this?

You would have to mask off the cylinders. Close up and seal off any openings to the insides. Most likely, you would have to do the same even if electroplating, since some amount of nickel would be deposited there as well.