Applying silver to various things seems like a time-consuming and expensive task, but everyone can do it. Yes, rare chemicals are used in professional production, which are hard to find on the open market, however, silvering products at home will not bring trouble. Before work, you will need to prepare a solution, or buy a similarity in a specialized store. Any decoration will turn out to be of high quality, and every beginner will cope with the work. You can silver products from almost any material, but more often they resort to the approach to restore metal chains, earrings, bracelets and other things. This processing is carried out using different approaches, and at the end the element will not only acquire a new appearance, but also change its technical properties.
In order for the result to be successful, it is important to properly prepare the mass. Since cooking will come with a combination of harmful components, you need to choose a ventilated room. Also, in order to prevent danger, the access of children to reagents should be limited. As for the recipe, one of them looks like this (for example, silvering of copper will be considered):
Everything is carefully crushed and mixed with each other. As a result, a pasty base is forced to form. It is applied to a soft cloth, and the item is evenly wiped. When the surface gets a silver tint, it is washed out of the tap and polished with a thick cotton rag. The same type is used to silver a variety of metals, plastics, ceramics and other materials.
The most important stage is the cleaning of the object from oxides, grease and rust (the compound is applied to an absolutely clean workpiece). For this, any well-known method, for example, white vinegar, is suitable. It is enough to lower copper objects into it for several hours. As an alternative version, a baking soda mixture is made. It must be thick so that it can be applied on a plane. Further, pollution and corrosion are easily reduced with an old toothbrush.
A homemade substance cannot be stored for a long time in a residential area, especially near a fire. Over time, a reaction occurs, during which explosive components are formed. Also, silver coating, especially at home, is recommended to be carried out carefully, with protection of the respiratory system and skin. And at the end of the procedure, hands are washed and disinfected.
If there is a desire to gild a steel object, then it is unlikely that it will be possible to perform the operation quickly. Gilding will require complex components (sodium phosphate, gold chloride, crystalline, sodium carbonate, etc.) and special equipment (special baths). However, there are examples on the net, the share of which is about home types of gilding, in which case you can make the blank yourself.
One of the most effective approaches to apply silver plating is to finish with a photo fixer solution that is not suitable for film. The action is easy: hyposulfite is mixed with formalin in proportions of 1 l / 10 drops, about 5 ml is added to the resulting mixture. ammonia. This will allow you to correct and get a bright color. The surface must be prepared by removing all dirt and grease. After the jewelry is immersed in the emulsion made for 1.5 hours.
Such silver plating is less dangerous at home, but it is not recommended to neglect safety precautions. At the end of the session, the surface will be covered with a thin cover of argentum, the amount of which will affect the shine. The finished element must be washed, dried and wiped with a cloth or leather cloth.
You can also silver copper with matte photographic paper in hyposulfite: cut photo sheets are placed in the prepared emulsion, with which they subsequently wipe the plane. As a result, the accessory will be covered with a layer. At the end, everything is wiped with a damp and soft cloth. It should be noted that the upper layer may not be enough, and manipulations can be repeated. Sometimes a lapis pencil is used to improve, but it will not be easy for inexperienced people to follow the rules and technology.
This is another system that private individuals use. The operation is permissible with a graphite rod. You will also need a power supply and an electrolyte designed for silvering things at home. It includes 4 components:
Each element is separately dissolved in boiling water, then mixed and boiled for about 2 hours. The solution for silvering is stored in a plastic container with a well-closed lid and in a dark place. Before use, it is shaken to raise the sediment and poured into a glass container. The main thing is not to forget about protective equipment, and to do manipulations with rubber gloves.
Then a graphite rod is partially immersed in the vessel (it can be removed from the battery) and an anode is connected to it. The part itself is connected to the cathode and lowered into the tank with the substance. It (the part) is also important to degrease and clean. The voltage on the block is set from 5 to 12 volts and the greater the current, the faster the galvanic silvering. However, the thickness of the interlayer will not be thick enough. Thus, a good layer is obtained, which adheres tightly to the surface. But its properties are completely dependent on the purity of coins, jewelry, cufflinks and more.
The remaining composition can be reused, the main thing is to follow the storage rules.
Here, 100 g of argentum chloride is mixed with water, and 600 g of salt and tartar are mixed with water. A thick mass should form, which is stored in a dark glass dish. Silver coating goes like this: the mixture is diluted with boiling water, where the object is kept for 15-20 minutes. The connection takes place in a copper container, where things are lowered in the grate. As for cooking, the combination is carried out in a ratio of 3 tablespoons of mass per 5 liters of liquid.
It is better to process brass and cuprum. In other situations, it is advised to take alloys that tolerate high temperatures well. This option is not very positive, and the jewelry will not have brightness.
To make a bright thickness, another technology is needed, where acetic (100 g) and sulfuric (300 g) salt are dissolved. Everything is combined with 4.5-5 liters of water and at T \u003d 75-80 ° C, cook for about 15 minutes. This method of applying silver will give a solid and shiny color.
Some alloys are not designed for such conditions, but this problem can be easily solved by applying a layer of cuprum.
The procedure is also carried out by galvanic and electrolytic methods, but only the essence changes.
Silver is an excellent and inexpensive type of improvement, which is used to silver products of any class. The key advantages include instant action, and the product is suitable for both dishes and buttons, awards, figurines and more. The paste is mixed until homogeneous, the treated part is wiped with a solvent, coated with a thin layer of paste. Next, time is given for drying, and the remaining silver is washed off. For a thicker layer, everything can be repeated 2-3 times. In case of drying, the composition can be diluted with water.
In this order, it is possible to perform silvering of brass, copper and other alloys, and this does not require specific skills and complex reagents. The purchase and operation of such a substance is possible without special permission, it is open for free sale and is great for beginners in home use. As for quality, the workmanship will not be inferior to analogues made in other ways.
Silver plating of metal products can be done at home. Such a procedure can be qualitatively carried out in various ways, and for the practical implementation of many of them you do not need to look for and buy expensive chemical reagents. You can prepare a solution for silvering copper products from available tools even at home.
Products coated with a layer of silver, like gilded metal, look very presentable, which explains the high popularity of such a technological operation.
The silvering process has a number of features that must be taken into account when performing it. These features are as follows.
One of the ways in which chemical silvering is performed is that the surface of the metal is treated with antichlorine (sodium thiosulfate) - a solution for fixing a photograph. The essence of the silvering method using such a solution is as follows.
You can silver copper in the following way.
In order to silver metal, you can use special pastes that are easy to prepare at home. Silvering of metal products with the help of special pasty compositions is carried out according to various methods.
Method #1The first of these methods involves the use of silver nitrate, which is often called a lapis pencil. Although this method of silver plating is quite complex, it makes it possible to form a dense silver coating on the metal surface.
The lapis pencil is also used as a "tester" for silver and other metals.
To implement this silvering method, an aqueous solution is prepared, consisting of 300 ml of water and 2 grams of silver nitrate. Hydrochloric acid or a 10% aqueous solution of common salt is gradually added to the resulting solution. Such a process is carried out until a precipitate, which is silver chloride, ceases to fall to the bottom of the container. The flaky precipitate thus obtained must be collected, filtered and washed thoroughly.
Filtered and washed silver chloride is mixed with a solution consisting of 100 ml of water and 20 grams of sodium hyposulfite. The mixture thus obtained is filtered and mixed with tooth powder or ground chalk, bringing its consistency to a creamy state. Such a mixture is already ready for use, and the surface of the copper product is rubbed with it, as a result of which a thin film of silver is formed on it.
Method #2
To perform silver plating of copper products using the second method, you must mix the following components:
All of the above components are mixed dry and carefully ground in a mortar. The resulting mixture can be stored in a dark glass container for quite a long time. Immediately before use, this powder is diluted in water to a paste-like state and the surface of the workpiece is rubbed with this agent.
Method #3
The following silvering method involves the use of a mixture, which includes the following components:
The resulting mixture is dissolved in water to a paste-like state, applied to a soft cloth, which is used to rub the treated surface until a silver sheen is obtained.
To silver metal using this method, a mixture of the following composition is prepared:
The technology for preparing silvering paste using this method is as follows:
The paste, which was obtained as a result of mixing all the components, treats the surface of the product, after which it is washed with water and dried thoroughly.
The powders from which such silvering pastes are prepared can be stored dry for quite a long time (a year or more), while the silvering liquid has a shelf life limited to only a few days.
Several techniques are used to prepare a silver plating kit, in which the workpiece will be heated along with the applied solution.
First wayTo implement the first method, a mixture of the following composition is prepared:
The resulting dry mixture, which can be stored for a long time in a dark glass container, is dissolved in water (at the rate of 3 tablespoons of the dry mixture per five liters of water) and the resulting solution is brought to a boil. The metal to be silvered is boiled in such a solution for a quarter of an hour.
As a result of this treatment, the metal is covered with a matte layer of silver. To give the coating a shine, it is necessary to additionally process the product in a solution of the following composition:
Such a solution is brought to a temperature of 70–80 ° and the product is kept in it for 10–15 minutes. As a result of this treatment, the metal surface acquires a characteristic silver sheen.
Second wayYou can also silver metal using the following composition:
2-3 tablespoons of this mixture are added to five liters of water, which is brought to a boil. The products to be processed are immersed in such a solution in a clay or porcelain sieve, while the boiling mixture is continuously stirred with a glass or wooden stick.
Such galvanic silvering makes it possible to obtain a silver-plated wire or any other type of product with a denser coating. Silver plating can also be done using different techniques.
To implement the first silvering method, in which electroplating is involved, a solution of the following composition is prepared:
Mixing the components of this solution with distilled water, bring its volume to one liter. Galvanization of the workpiece occurs due to the fact that pieces of zinc or a plate of this metal are added to the container in which silvering is performed.
The paste-like mixture for silvering according to this method is prepared from the following components
In a paste-like mass obtained by mixing such a mixture with two parts of water, small products are immersed, and larger parts are simply rubbed with it.
Method number 3This method, which is called contact, also refers to the galvanic-chemical methods of silvering. For its implementation, a mixture of the following composition is prepared:
The essence of this silvering method, which resembles zinc plating, is that the workpiece is placed in an aqueous solution of this mixture. At the same time, a zinc rod or wire that is in contact with the surface of the part is also immersed in the solution.
Rhodium-plated silver is a precious metal that has a thin surface layer of rhodium. It is widely used in the manufacture of various jewelry. The material has a number of advantages that make it one of the most popular in the world. It is possible to apply such a coating on a silver product not only in specially equipped workshops, but also at home.
Before upgrading jewelry (chain, pendant, cross and others), you need to decide what rhodium silver means and what advantages it has. This will help to learn more about the process itself and its proper implementation at home.
Rhodium is a precious metal that belongs to the same group of chemical elements as platinum, ruthenium, palladium, and iridium. It is valued by jewelers for its durability and attractive appearance. Its value significantly exceeds the price of not only silver, but also gold. Because of this feature, it is rarely used in its pure form for making jewelry. In most cases, a rhodium plating on silver is deposited. It gives jewelry more shine and keeps it from any damage.
The thickness of the sprayed coating is approximately equal to that used in blackened silver, and never exceeds 25 micrometers, which corresponds to half the width of a human hair.
Rhodium plating of silver products is carried out only by order of the buyer. Applying a thin layer of coating such goals:
Rhodium plated silver has many advantages over pure silver. Thanks to this, jewelry becomes of better quality and delights owners with its appearance for a long time.
Among the many advantages of rhodium plating, one should highlight a few main ones:
Rhodium plating has not only advantages, but also disadvantages, which is why it is rarely used to create exclusive and very expensive jewelry.
The negatives include the following:
In most cases, items made of 925 sterling silver or 750 gold are rhodium-plated. These two types of precious metals are considered the most popular and affordable for people of different status. In order to determine what 925 rhodium sterling silver is, it is necessary to consider the procedure for obtaining it. The whole process is quite simple, not only for experienced jewelers, but also for beginners.
To spray expensive metal on silver jewelry at home, you only need basic knowledge of chemistry.
The birthing process includes several mandatory steps:
Rhodium-plated silver is quite difficult to distinguish from other metals. The greatest external similarity of this material is observed with platinum and white gold. In order to accurately determine the type of coverage, it is necessary to take into account the main features. Among them are the following:
If the buyer of jewelry is not a professional, then the work of determining the type of material should be entrusted to a highly qualified specialist. He, based on experience, will carry out the necessary manipulations and issue his verdict. This option, although costly, allows you to reduce the likelihood of error to a minimum.
To determine which rhodium sterling silver is best, you need to understand the properties and characteristics of each. This is also a rather difficult task, which only professionals can handle.
The purchased silver product has an attractive appearance, for the preservation of which for many years it is necessary to properly care for the jewelry. In this case, there are a large number of nuances, knowing which you can maintain the original appearance of the product for a long time.
Features of caring for rhodium-plated silver:
In addition to the standard rules for caring for rhodium-plated jewelry, there are several folk ways. All of them are quite simple and do not require large financial costs.
Folk and professional methods for cleaning products from rhodium-plated silver:
You can create real jewelry masterpieces from rhodium-plated silver. This material is equally suitable for both men and women. Most popular rhodium plated jewelry are considered:
All of the listed products can be supplemented with any precious stone. Although this will significantly increase the cost, it will make the decoration more original and attractive. Most often used:
Rhodium plated silver is a quality material that is ideal for making jewelry. Finished products are distinguished by their brilliance and beauty. To keep them for several years, it is necessary to ensure proper storage and proper care.
There are two ways to silver metal:
100 grams of silver chloride are mixed with 600 grams of table salt and 600 grams of tartar (in powder), so much water is added to make a liquid slurry, which is stored in a well-corked brown glass jar in a dark place. To use, dissolve 3 tablespoons of this slurry in 5 liters of water and boil in a copper boiler for 15-20 minutes.
Metal objects that are subject to silvering are placed on a sieve (for example, porcelain) and lowered into a boiling liquid, with the sieve constantly moving. As a result, objects are covered with a thin layer of silver.
Then the silver-plated object is placed in the following composition: 300 grams of hyposulfite and 100 grams of lead-acetic salt are dissolved in 4.8 liters of hot water. Lead sulphate begins to be released from the solution, and when heated for 10-15 minutes. (up to 75 degrees) objects get the desired sheen.
Small objects made of copper or brass, which are to be silvered, must first be degreased and oxides removed from their surface.
Then it is heated in an enamel pot with a capacity of 3-5 liters. water to a boil, put 2-3 full tablespoons of the prepared dough, which does not completely dissolve, and lower the clay sieve with metal objects in it into the boiling solution, and the objects are constantly stirred with a glass or wooden stick. Before lowering a new portion of objects into the bath, you need to add a fresh portion of the dough.
For silvering using zinc contact (bringing the metal surface of the object into contact with a zinc stick), 10 parts of silver nitrate are taken, poured over with a sufficient amount of hydrochloric acid, the silver chloride obtained in the precipitate is precipitated and washed.
Silver chloride is dissolved with 70 parts of ammonia and 40 parts of potassium cyanide, 40 parts of soda, 15 parts of sodium chloride and 1000 parts of water are added to the solution.
Carefully! Potassium cyanide is poisonous.
Three methods of silvering metal by immersion:
Four ways of silvering metals:
For silvering of copper, 3 parts of silver nitrogen salt, 2 parts of sodium chloride and 210 parts of cremortartar are mixed. For silvering, take a little of this powder and rub the cleaned surface of the copper object with a rag soaked in water.
For silvering copper, the following liquid can be successfully used: 14 parts of silver chloride, 21 parts of potassium oxalate, 30 parts of sodium chloride and 7.5 parts of ammonium chloride are dissolved in 6-10 parts of water.
For silvering copper and brass, a liquid is used: 30 parts of nitrogen-silver salt are dissolved in 100 parts of distilled water, a solution of 10 parts of sodium chloride in 100 parts of distilled water is added with constant stirring, and a mixture is added consisting of 65 parts of chalk, 30 parts of tartar, 150 parts of ammonia (specific gravity 0.960) and 60 parts of distilled water.
The mixture is stored in a dark place.
Silver-coated objects made of copper, brass or iron (previously coated with a layer of copper by lowering into a solution of copper sulphate) are thoroughly cleaned and rubbed with the above mixture using a cloth until a layer of silver is obtained.
Finally wash off with warm water.
The mixture is stored in orange bottles in a dark place.
