how to silver plate copper at home

Place the copper item in the pot. As long as it isnt opened, the silver plating solution doesnt have a shelf life. Temperature will be difficult to monitor with a blow torch. Remove your silver from the water and enjoy. It is VERY important that this is done well and completely. (I still stick to using silver solder for tough metals though. Thanks, subodh1368 My budget isn't that flexible, though thanks for the input. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/fc\/Melt-Silver-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Melt-Silver-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/fc\/Melt-Silver-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid1424250-v4-728px-Melt-Silver-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b2\/Melt-Silver-Step-2-Version-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Melt-Silver-Step-2-Version-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b2\/Melt-Silver-Step-2-Version-5.jpg\/aid1424250-v4-728px-Melt-Silver-Step-2-Version-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/7d\/Melt-Silver-Step-3-Version-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Melt-Silver-Step-3-Version-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/7d\/Melt-Silver-Step-3-Version-5.jpg\/aid1424250-v4-728px-Melt-Silver-Step-3-Version-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3b\/Melt-Silver-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Melt-Silver-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3b\/Melt-Silver-Step-4.jpg\/aid1424250-v4-728px-Melt-Silver-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b3\/Melt-Silver-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Melt-Silver-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b3\/Melt-Silver-Step-5.jpg\/aid1424250-v4-728px-Melt-Silver-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/32\/Melt-Silver-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Melt-Silver-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/32\/Melt-Silver-Step-6.jpg\/aid1424250-v4-728px-Melt-Silver-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/4d\/Melt-Silver-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Melt-Silver-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/4d\/Melt-Silver-Step-7.jpg\/aid1424250-v4-728px-Melt-Silver-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/08\/Melt-Silver-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Melt-Silver-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/08\/Melt-Silver-Step-8.jpg\/aid1424250-v4-728px-Melt-Silver-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/bf\/Melt-Silver-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Melt-Silver-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/bf\/Melt-Silver-Step-9.jpg\/aid1424250-v4-728px-Melt-Silver-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/11\/Melt-Silver-Step-10.jpg\/v4-460px-Melt-Silver-Step-10.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/11\/Melt-Silver-Step-10.jpg\/aid1424250-v4-728px-Melt-Silver-Step-10.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d0\/Melt-Silver-Step-11-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Melt-Silver-Step-11-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d0\/Melt-Silver-Step-11-Version-3.jpg\/aid1424250-v4-728px-Melt-Silver-Step-11-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/2c\/Melt-Silver-Step-12.jpg\/v4-460px-Melt-Silver-Step-12.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/2c\/Melt-Silver-Step-12.jpg\/aid1424250-v4-728px-Melt-Silver-Step-12.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/ff\/Melt-Silver-Step-13-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Melt-Silver-Step-13-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/ff\/Melt-Silver-Step-13-Version-2.jpg\/aid1424250-v4-728px-Melt-Silver-Step-13-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6e\/Melt-Silver-Step-14-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Melt-Silver-Step-14-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6e\/Melt-Silver-Step-14-Version-3.jpg\/aid1424250-v4-728px-Melt-Silver-Step-14-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/06\/Melt-Silver-Step-15-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Melt-Silver-Step-15-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/06\/Melt-Silver-Step-15-Version-3.jpg\/aid1424250-v4-728px-Melt-Silver-Step-15-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/88\/Melt-Silver-Step-16.jpg\/v4-460px-Melt-Silver-Step-16.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/88\/Melt-Silver-Step-16.jpg\/aid1424250-v4-728px-Melt-Silver-Step-16.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}. -The difference in plating quality between low voltages (0.5VDC is the lowest you can go) and 6VDC is not much. Size: 8 1/4" long. You can purchase a foundry crucible at a local casting supply store or at many online retailers. Gently rub the paste- or cream-based polish (e.g., Wright's Silver Polish Cleaner, available for $5 on . wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. "EB-750 etchant is Sodium Persulphate, and it reacts with copper to become Copper Sulphate." Can I use nickels for a donor metal to nickel plate items? This can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. Subscribe for free jewellery making advice, inspiration, new product updates & exclusive offers. Put on your goggles, your gloves, your apron, and your face shield. There are other electrolytes besides copper acetate that work well. You will then poor the molten silver out of the crucible into a cast or mold. For example, nickel doesn't like to adhere to some steels without some coaxing. This chemical solution has positive copper ions that will be attracted to our negative cathodes when we do our electroplating. Thanks kindly. Thanks for a short, but information-filled, read. This mixture is then smeared over the surface of your jewelry item and left to seep into the metal for one hour. As with all metals silver can cause 3rd degree burns near instantly avoid splashing it and take care while it cools. In order to get a good finish, it is VERY important to prep your surfaces. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). However, if it is a piece of jewellery you have applied it tothen it will depend on the amount of wear and how much friction it comes into contact with (as with all silver plated jewellery items). If you're using ceramic or clay, you'll need to fire them at temps over 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit or 537 degrees Celsius. Most furnaces include a temperature gauge to help you monitor it. In this case, 95% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Direct the flame directly at the silver item. In the picture, you'll find a table I borrowed from RFI. It also (usually) increases the conductivity of the metal to be plated. Industrial-grade apron rated to protect against molten metal. And since you say that nickel plays nicely with lead, does that mean that a copper coating will not be necessary for my purposes? Place your slag someone safe, as you might want to melt it again to remove excess silver. In Antiques & Collectors You can replace it with a 1.5V battery or a couple AA's if you'd like or it would save you some money.