rock soderstrom
Tour de France
I would like to nickel-plate a DIY microphone made of copper tubes. The single parts are to be soldered together. Will the nickel stick to the solder? Which solder should I use for this?
Sounds good Rusan, thanks for your information!Rock, just about any solder alloy will accept nickel plating. Nickel is almost universally used as a substrate for platings that do not adhere directly to a particular base metal very well, in much the way that shellac is used as a universal sealer under a wide variety of wood finishes.
Is that the way they did the nickel capsules back then? Sounds exciting...Put some soap on a plastic sheet, and it'll nickel-plate (just ask Neumann)
Keep us posted on the progress of this.I would like to nickel-plate a DIY microphone made of copper tubes. The single parts are to be soldered together. Will the nickel stick to the solder? Which solder should I use for this?
I plan to grind the surface and polish it a bit, then degrease with hydrochloric acid and water mixture, rinse with distilled water and put it into the galvanic bath.How are you going to prep the surface? I think the surface prep is what determines the sheen.
Although I don't mind the look of brass railing soldered together, I'd like to try to get a matte nickel plate in a mic build in the future
I also want more of a matte look, not so chrome like. I'll do some tests, see what works best and how it looks in real life.I'd like to try to get a matte nickel plate in a mic build in the future
The classic "Triple Plateing" is copper/nickel/chrome. Copper first, as you can polish to a mirror shine more easily, nickel for durability. I'd then stop there, but buffing the nickel and topping with chrome was the way for many objects..I would like to nickel-plate a DIY microphone made of copper tubes. The single parts are to be soldered together. Will the nickel stick to the solder? Which solder should I use for this?
I happened to meet someone last night while drinking beer who does this for a living. He described this process essentially exactly the same for different end results. They always build their coatings from different layers to get maximum stability, uniformity and the best look.The classic "Triple Plateing" is copper/nickel/chrome. Copper first, as you can polish to a mirror shine more easily, nickel for durability. I'd then stop there, but buffing the nickel and topping with chrome was the way for many objects..
I would also like to have such a machine but for the beginning handwork and my small polishing wheel will have to do. Let's see how far you can get with it.Rock, if you're wanting a matte nickel finish, try to find a local shop that has a sandblasting cabinet with fine glass beads or ceramic bead media. If you were in the U.S., you could just send it to me and I'd glass-bead it for you at my workplace.
Interesting, I will try some solders. I am also curious how well the copper tubes can be soldered. This is also new territory for me.Use lead free solder, the silver will love the nickel.
Beadmaking - my next new hobbyTo get the skills of working with open flame i attended a workshop "Beadmaking" it was fun...
https://www.craftcourses.com/categories/glass/lampwork-and-hot-glass-bead-making
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