Solution Steps by Metal Type
Pre-Treatment Solutions Required to Activate Surface of Metal | Is the metal Magnetic? | ||||
Metal Type | Step 1 Pretreatment | Step 2 Pretreatment | Step 3 Diffusion Barrier | Step 4 Final Plate | |
Stainless Steel | Electro-cleaner | Wood’s Nickel Strike or TriVal Gold Strike | N/A | Final Desired Plating Solution | YES |
Carbon Steel / Steel | Electro-cleaner | Copper Strike or Wood's Nickel Strike | Bright Nickel or Palladium | Final Desired Plating Solution | YES |
Chrome | Chrome Stripper in proper mode | Surface Activator | N/A | Final Desired Plating Solution | Chrome is not, but the Nickel under is |
Nickel & Palladium | Electro-cleaner | Surface Activator | N/A | Final Desired Plating Solution | Nickel - YES Palladium - NO |
Bronze | Electro-cleaner | Surface Activator | Bright Nickel | Final Desired Plating Solution | NO |
Copper, Brass, Silver, German Silver | Electro-cleaner | Surface Activator | Bright Nickel or Palladium | Final Desired Plating Solution | NO |
Tin | Electro-cleaner | Copper Strike | Bright Nickel or Palladium | Final Desired Plating Solution | NO |
Pewter | Electro-cleaner | Copper Strike | Bright Nickel or Palladium | Final Desired Plating Solution | NO |
Lead | Electro-cleaner | Surface Activator | N/A | Final Desired Plating Solution | NO |
Solder | Electro-cleaner | Surface Activator, Copper Strike if tin-based | Bright Nickel or Palladium | Final Desired Plating Solution | NO |
Zinc plated steel | Strip Zinc, then Electro-cleaner | Copper Strike or Wood's Nickel Strike | Bright Nickel or Palladium | Final Desired Plating Solution | YES |
Zinc Die Cast | Electro-Cleaner | Copper Strike | Bright Nickel or Palladium | Final Desired Plating Solution | NO |
Inconel | Electro-Cleaner | TriVal Gold Strike | N/A | Final Desired Plating Solution | NO |
Cobalt | YES | ||||
Iron | Electro-Cleaner | Copper Strike or Wood's Nickel Strike | Bright Nickel or Palladium | Final Desired Plating Solution | YES |
Tungsten & Tungsten Alloys | The plating process may differ depending on tungsten purity. Tungsten Carbide cannot be plated with our chemicals or machines. Contact us at tech@goldplating.com for more information. | NO | |||
PVD | Cannot plate onto PVD unless it has a specialized additive or coating. | NO | |||
Aluminum | Can not perform at an amateur level. Please seek professional plating company to apply nickel onto aluminum for proper adhesion. Once nickel is applied correctly, follow pre-treatment recommendations. | NO | |||
Titanium | Can not be plated onto with our solutions. | NO | |||
Compounds and alloys can also be magnetic if they contain iron, cobalt, or nickel. |