Solid Plating Process by Heat

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After having well cleaned and polished the :r:i'ti:i to 1J ' pl.'ted. moisten its surface with 'i' 'Miti'r. hy means of a camel-hair pencil. ::id spread over it very uniformly some of the powder No. 1, (the composition of which is ;IVPII below] - ; that, on turning over the metal, a Isyir id the powder remains adhering to its stir;'."--.:. This done, place the metal in a clear 'h;n on! lire,and heat it to redness , nn.ncr-o if m pure boiling water, or wa-' '' containing a small quantity of salt or taitrate of potash dissolved in it; then rub it, with a stiff brush, over every part. In this stats! it will appear to be already entirely silveied, and this first operation is the most important, inasmuch as it is in this way, the silver in a state of fusion by penetrating the object to be plated, serves as a basis for the following additional operations:—Cover again, very evenly the article to be plated hy meaas of. a pencil, with the paste, thn composition ol which is given in No. 2; heat to a cherry-red, plunge it into boiling water, and rub well when cold. Repeat this four or five times, after which the object is sufficiently silvered, and becomes fit to receive the lustre of the burnisher. No. 1. Powder for the first operation—Dissolve silver in nitric acid, and precipitate in the usual manner, by means or a slip of copper, v.-iish, and dry the silver precipitate. Ta]:t? one yu-ri oiinn silver powder, one part of chloride of vh r. two parts of calcined purified borax. Vax these ingredients with great care in a porcelain mortar, and afterwards pass through a fine silk sieve. No. 2 Paste for the subsequent operations— Mix, very carelui [y equal parts of silver powder, purified sal ammoniac, puro salt, sulphate ofzmc, and clear- pure gall; grind these together very fine, adding distilled water containing a very little gum dissolved in it, and make a paste of a convenient consistence to apply by means of a pencil. Articles silvered or plated in this way, show, when broken, that the silver has evidently penetrated into the copper, thereby ensuring tLe most solid and durable plating. The points and edges of plated goods, from which, by use, the silver has worn off, may be restored by this means, and to effect this, it will be necessary only to apply the process to those parts which may require a renewal of the silvering. Articles which have been blackened or tarnished may readily be restored to their original beauty by means of this simple and easy process.

Scientific American Magazine Vol 8 Issue 46This article was published with the title “Solid Plating Process by Heat” in Scientific American Magazine Vol. 8 No. 46 (), p. 361
doi:10.1038/scientificamerican07301853-361

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