Twigman Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 Plenty of bits are available with chrome plating. On my latest build I would prefer nickel plating. I want to use a Hipshot 3 string retainer on the headstock across the A D & G strings: and I have already got a Babicz full contact bridge: but they are both chrome plated. I was thinking that if I took the bridge to bits and bathed everything in 100% acetone for a few days to strip the chrome plating that I could then electroplate all the bits with nickel using something like this: [url="http://www.gaterosplating.co.uk/Bright-Nickel-Plating-Kit.php"]http://www.gaterosplating.co.uk/Bright-Nickel-Plating-Kit.php[/url] I know it's a pricey way to go about it but if it was to work it would make all the difference.... Has anyone here tried home electroplating? What kind of results have you had? Is it harder than I think? Should I even think about doing it? Am I going to ruin all my bits? Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiOgon Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 Is removing chrome plate really as easy as you suggest? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigman Posted May 14, 2012 Author Share Posted May 14, 2012 [quote name='KiOgon' timestamp='1337010598' post='1653934'] Is removing chrome plate really as easy as you suggest? [/quote] So Google tells me!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LawrenceH Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 It's not something I've done, but shouldn't muriatic acid strip the chrome and leave the nickel plate that's already on there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigman Posted May 14, 2012 Author Share Posted May 14, 2012 [quote name='LawrenceH' timestamp='1337010721' post='1653937'] It's not something I've done, but shouldn't muriatic acid strip the chrome and leave the nickel plate that's already on there? [/quote] Is there nickel under the chrome? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LawrenceH Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 [quote name='Twigman' timestamp='1337010889' post='1653942'] Is there nickel under the chrome? [/quote] Typically yes. Whether there is for your particular hardware though, is worth checking! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigman Posted May 14, 2012 Author Share Posted May 14, 2012 The hardware I want to do this to is aluminium to start with. I thought the chrome plating went straight on the aluminium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LawrenceH Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 Hmm the babicz bridge is aluminium apparently... not a good idea to mix with the acid (bang!), though IF it is nickel plated underneath it MIGHT still be ok. If I was going to try this, I'd use a small amount of diluted acid solution on an inconspicuous part of the bridge first and rinse very thoroughly when done. There may be other chemical strippers for aluminium that'll leave behind any nickel layer. Replating aluminium is probably more complicated than brass though so I wouldn't do it unless you know it's nickel underneath already. Maybe easier just to trade with someone who has a nickel version? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigman Posted May 14, 2012 Author Share Posted May 14, 2012 [quote name='LawrenceH' timestamp='1337011664' post='1653960']Maybe easier just to trade with someone who has a nickel version? [/quote] I contacted the manufacturer. They have never made a nickel version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LawrenceH Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 So I probably haven't been very helpful, sorry! But having thought about it I am also sceptical that an organic solvent like acetone would dissolve chrome (or nickel) plating. In fact I'm pretty sure I've used acetone to clean hardware before without dissolving anything other than the grease I wanted to get rid of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigman Posted May 14, 2012 Author Share Posted May 14, 2012 [quote name='LawrenceH' timestamp='1337012545' post='1653976'] So I probably haven't been very helpful, sorry! But having thought about it I am also sceptical that an organic solvent like acetone would dissolve chrome (or nickel) plating. In fact I'm pretty sure I've used acetone to clean hardware before without dissolving anything other than the grease I wanted to get rid of. [/quote] So I shouldn't be believing this?: http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_7614546_remove-chrome-nickel-plating.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LawrenceH Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 [quote name='Twigman' timestamp='1337012683' post='1653983'] So I shouldn't be believing this?: [url="http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_7614546_remove-chrome-nickel-plating.html"]http://www.ehow.co.u...el-plating.html[/url] [/quote] It will probably work if it's chrome-effect paint like you'd get on plastic. But not on proper electroplating Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigman Posted May 14, 2012 Author Share Posted May 14, 2012 [quote name='LawrenceH' timestamp='1337013011' post='1653991'] It will probably work if it's chrome-effect paint like you'd get on plastic. But not on proper electroplating [/quote] Hmmm i suspect it's proper plating..... Could I nickel plate over the chrome plate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigman Posted May 14, 2012 Author Share Posted May 14, 2012 Think I might get a quote from these guys.....to strip the chrome then nickel plate http://www.ashfordchroming.com/dechroming will report back... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiOgon Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 [quote name='Twigman' timestamp='1337012683' post='1653983'] So I shouldn't be believing this?: [url="http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_7614546_remove-chrome-nickel-plating.html"]http://www.ehow.co.u...el-plating.html[/url] [/quote] I wouldn't believe any of that - if they say "use a plastic container" to hold acetone I don't think so I'm sure there are some that will BUT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LawrenceH Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 [quote name='Twigman' timestamp='1337014158' post='1654026'] Think I might get a quote from these guys.....to strip the chrome then nickel plate [url="http://www.ashfordchroming.com/dechroming"]http://www.ashfordch....com/dechroming[/url] will report back... [/quote] Good luck! I still think there's a good chance your parts will be nickel-chrome plated so might be worth asking their opinion on this too, potentially save you the cost of replating Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 Acetone won't dissolve metal. Any anything that would dissolve metal will dissolve most metals faster than it would chrome, so either it eats the whoel bridge, or none of it. It cites a source for it that talks about using bleach to dechrome plastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigman Posted May 14, 2012 Author Share Posted May 14, 2012 [quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1337015470' post='1654066'] Acetone won't dissolve metal. Any anything that would dissolve metal will dissolve most metals faster than it would chrome, so either it eats the whoel bridge, or none of it. It cites a source for it that talks about using bleach to dechrome plastic. [/quote] yeah I spoteed that later..... Gonna find a local plater and take it along and see what they say Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoonBassAlpha Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 We used to use AA Platers in Watford. Don't know if they're still there. I think they were west Watford/Greycaine est. area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Bassy Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 [quote name='KiOgon' timestamp='1337014169' post='1654028'] I wouldn't believe any of that - if they say "use a plastic container" to hold acetone I don't think so I'm sure there are some that will BUT! [/quote] Beat me to it! Any site that says to put acetone in an unspecified plastic bowl should be taken with a big pinch of salt! (Acetone is used as a glue for perspex - works by dissolving it!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted May 17, 2012 Share Posted May 17, 2012 A sad story; please have hankies ready. I worked for a company that fitted rubber rollers to metal axles (think printer rollers...). On site was a multi-bath nickel-plating setup for plating the shafts. I have been playing my Camco drums for nearly 40 years; the chromed hoops have started to 'pit', the original chrome had had it's day, so I asked my colleague plater if he could do a 'homer' for me, and nickel plate the hoops. He agreed, I handed him all the hoops, and he went for it. Bad idea. He is an expert in plating shafts, but had no experience doing hoops. Having no guide as to time needed for the various preparatory operations, he had to estimate (read: guess...) the time needed in the baths. He managed to salvage about half the hoops, once he realised that they were reacting (much...) faster than he had anticipated. He even managed to finish the nickelling of some of them. They were not a pretty sight. Just for the record, Camco are 'Holy Grail' drums, highly collectable, especially if in original condition. Alas, my (otherwise great...) set have now lost a fair bit of their collectability. Moral: try out first on a dispensable, low value item first, if you don't know exactly how things will react. Hope this helps (...and stop snifffing; blow your nose. It's not [i]that [/i]sad..!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
police squad Posted May 17, 2012 Share Posted May 17, 2012 Ok i know a bit about this. I worked in the industry for 20 years. There is always nickel underneath shiney chrome. A plating company should be able to strip the chrome and leave the nickel showing. I have done this hundreds of times. You can either leave it in a bath of hydro chloric acid or we used to use a cleaning solution and pass current and when fizzed or stopped it was done. Can't quite remember as it was over 10 years ago. Now, if its aluminium it Will have been coated with a special chemical to stop the aluminium dissolving in the other chemicals, then its plated as normal. My advice to you. Do not use Ashford chroming, nice guys but they put the actual plating out, but use butterworths in ramsgate in Kent. My company still uses them and i have a guitar bridge over there being plated. It probably won't be cheap, it never is. Hope I've helped. Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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