A Silver Plating Question

[ShinyLauren]

I've been thinking of getting some pieces cast in either bronze or brass, but I know a polished finish won't last without laquer and I also don't want to turn people's skin green!

So, if I get the finished pieces silver plated, I'm assuming a polished finish will remain?

Which metal is better for silver plating - bronze or brass?

Thanks!

[Goldsmith]

Both metals plate equally well, also if you use the skills of a decent electro plater they should return your goods finished with whatever finish you require. I am assuming that you have an order for hundreds of your pieces at a very low price to be going down this route. If you don't have a jewellery plater in mind, I have used Sinclairs of 23 Hatton Garden in the past with excellent results.

James

[ShinyLauren]

Something like that James - just working out whether it's worth doing or not!

If both plate equally well, is either easier to cast or work with? The only base metal I've soldered before was gilding metal, which was easy. Will brass or bronze be similar?

[Goldsmith]

Both Brass and Bronze are alloys of Copper plus either zinc in Brass, or tin in Bronze. The brass alloy is usually cheaper than bronze and the metal will be easier to work as bronze can be a bit harder to work. Technically Gilding metal is a type of brass, as it is also made up of a copper + zinc alloy, just like brass. So brass will solder and work much the same as gilding metal. I am told that brass also casts better than bronze so may be cheaper.

James

[ShinyLauren]

Thanks James!

I'll do a bit of an experiment and see if it's worth it.

[lopez]

Hey, although silver is an option I would go for a nickel plate instead it would certainly be the most economical and probably look better. Since brass costs almost nothing most rings can be manufactured for around 50p.

[ps_bond]

Except for the minor fact that it would then fall foul of the EU nickel directive...

[lopez]

sorry, yes the EU directive does apply to the items but either way it is still worth doing because the Ni plated item can then be Rd, Au or Ag plated after giving a for better finish.
I stopped taking precious metal samples out years ago and as a rule all samples are now made in brass first and finished to look like the finished gold/ platinum item.

[Kwant]

ok let's try this one again but this time I will whisper as the last time I said it I seemed to have been booted and my post did not appear...........

I was wondering the same thing myself Peter when I noticed that Cookson now do a range of nickel plated items, is there some kind of nickel that does not leach into ones skin, is this something that can be controlled? This is just a question as a matter of interest as I would not ever use anything that had been plated nickel or otherwise

[Dennis]

Well I doubt if someone would want to pin a brooch on in the altogether, but leaving aside brooch backs and swivel clasps, the bead caps would certainly rest on skin.
Anyone already sensitive to nickel would get a tell-tale tingling sensation just touching them. Anyone not, it’s only a matter of time. Dennis.