Hello All:  This message in reply to Nancy Fratti's request for home brew
Nickel Plating.

Yes, you can do it, and it's quite easy.  Unfortunately I do not have a
source for the chemicals, but I'm sure that you can find your own by
calling around to some local plating shops to see where they buy their
stuff.

The set up for traditional Electrical Nickel plating requires several
chemicals and cleaners plus vats, electrodes and power supplies.  This is
a real hassle.  Not only that, the parts usually require a flash-plating
of copper as a base coating, prior to the nickel.  Using the electrical
method also tends to plate more heavily on sharp edges and not well in
inside corners, so it's sometimes difficult to get a good homogenous
plate.

However, there is an alternative, which is much easier.  It's called
Electroless Nickel.  It involves the use of a liquid into which nickel
has been dissolved (by an acid) and is subsequently buffered with other
proprietary chemicals.  So the stuff is basically nickel salts dissolved
in water.  This is the only stuff you have to get from a plating chemical
supply house.

The benefits of electroless nickel is that it plates *evenly*, even down
into holes if you want it to.  You can nickel plate almost any metal
also: stainless steel, aluminum, brass and steel.

It's a good idea to flash a copper coat onto steel though, and that can
be done easily also by briefly dipping the part into a strong solution of
copper sulfate dissolved into a dilute solution of battery acid
(sulfuric acid).

A friend of mine was able to get a gallon of electroless nickel plating
solution free for "evaluation" from a local plater; perhaps you can be
that lucky as well.

The process involves only 3 or 4 steps, mostly cleaning and polishing.
The actual plating is done in a double boiler in one step.

The first step is polishing.  The plated surface replicates the base
metal perfectly -- so however it looks before plating, is how it will
look after plating -- so it's a good idea to "polish up" your polishing
skills to the extent that it is necessary for the function or appearance
of the part.

The second step is cleaning.  Scrub the part a clean as you can with
detergent and a (tooth)brush.  Then put the part(s) into a glass
container set in a double boiler.  The cleaning solution is nothing but
water and a bunch of good old Red Devil Lye.  This caustic solution is
used to remove any grease and fingerprints that cannot be observed by
eye and to assure absolute cleanliness.

Boil the part(s) for a few minutes and then rinse in fresh water.  Be
careful with the lye, It'll eat holes in *you* as well as your clothes.
Be safe; use appropriate clothing, eye protection and rubber gloves.

Now you're ready for the actual plating, which is another "cooking"
step.  Put enough electroless nickel plating solution into a glass
container to cover the parts and boil in the double boiler for about 10
minutes.  Using a plastic implement, stir the parts around, turning them
over a few times for even plating, then remove the parts and wash in
fresh water.

Last step: electroless nickel does not come out with a high shine but
rather a "frosty" look, so the parts may have to be polished or buffed up
again if they require that appearance.  Be sure to build up sufficient
thickness of plate if this step is necessary.

The plating solution can be saved and re-used, but after a time the
nickel salts will become depleted, plating times will increase and it may
be time for replenishment or fresh solution.

Be sure to experiment first on some junk parts if you intend to plate
"precious" parts.  If you are working on rare parts, it may just be
wiser to pay the minimum charge (probably around $50+) and have a
professional plater do the job for you.  They can do the electrical-type
plating better than amateurs and you can get better, more robust plating
as wall as a very shiny appearance using this method.  Lots of them do
the electroless plating as well.

If you like a matte or satin finish, have the parts "sand-blasted" with
Fine Glass Beads before cleaning and plating.

A double boiler an be made out of an old deep-fryer or anything else like
that, usually you can pick up something cheap at you local thrift store,
Salvation Army, or at a garage sale.

Experiment 'till you get it right,  and be careful, 'cause

  "Momma don' allow no Nickel Platin' in here ..." (in the kitchen).

Dennis Mead

P.S.  "We don' care what Momma don' allow,
       jus' plate those parts y' got, any-how__  ..."