This copper plating solution is great for plating on non-conductive materials. It plates bright and levels out the plating surface. PP Copper also plates very well onto brass and pewter.
HS Code: 3824 99 70
PP Copper Brush Plating Solution
Price range: £13.24 through £29.87 + VAT
Here is a piece of tree bark that has been plated with our PP Copper Brush Plating Solution, after having been made conductive with our Conductive Ink (hi grade). To work out how much plating solution you will need to plate your item and how long it will take, please click on the ‘Calculator’ tab above and select PP Copper Plating Solution
Our MultiPlater is the ideal choice for powering your copper brush plating. This power source is designed and made by us at Spa Plating and is really straightforward to use and can be used for brush, pen and tank plating.
Here’s a video demonstrating how to use our PP Copper Brush Plating Solution to copper plate an aluminium bus bar;
Here’s a list of the main Spa Plating products that were used in this video;
MultiPlater
PP Copper Brush Plating Calculator
Alkaline Copper Brush Plating Solution
Zincate Dip (UK only)Plating Pen
Platinum Electrode
Extra Fluffy Swab
Beakers
| Features | Applications |
| Plates bright | Reduces the amount of polishing necessary to produce a high shine – saves you time and money when you want to go on to plate precious metals such as silver and gold |
| Levelling solution | If the item you’re plating is heavily scratched you can plate PP Copper extra thick and then polish back, saving you having to polish the item in the first place |
| Can be used to plate non-conductive surfaces such as wood. | PP Copper is recommended for the first plated layer onto Conductive Ink (hi-grade). |
| Can be used to plate onto metals like brass and pewter. | Plates very well onto brass and pewter. It also serves as a good undercoat for nickel and gold when plating onto pewter. |
Brush Calculator
How to use this calculator:
- In the first box, select the solution you are using.
- In the second box, enter the surface area of the item you are plating.
- In the third box, enter the thickness you wish to plate to.
- In the fourth box, select the type of swab that you are using.
- Click ‘Calculate’ to see the volume of solution required and the plating time. The weight of metal plated is also shown. This can be especially useful if you are using accurate scales to check the weight plated and can potentially lead to more accurate measurements.
We have also calibrated some of our solutions for use with the
Coulometer,
which uses its own dedicated calculators and gives far greater accuracy, especially for pen and brush plating.
For more precise control of plating thickness using the Spa Plating Coulometer, see our
Advanced PP Copper Brush Plating Calculator.
Operating Conditions and Deposit Data
| Voltage Range | 4.0 – 6.0 volts |
| Temperature | 14 – 25 °C |
| Gold Concentration | >60g/l |
| Electrode | Carbon |
| Gold content in plate | 100% (balance carbon) |
| Plating Rate at (3.5 volts, Platinum electrode) | Approx. 2 microns per minute (spot) |
| Hardness | 380 – 385 Hv |
| Density of deposit | 8.8 g/cm3 |
| Stress | Low stress |
Notes:
- We strongly advise against the use of stainless steel anodes for most of our plating processes especially in the case of PP Copper Brush Plating Solution
- Plating rates are calculated over a sample area which is permanently covered by swab.
Delivery information
We ship worldwide, except for products that carry a UN classification for transport.
- UK courier delivery (FedEx/APC): We use FedEx and APC. Delivery usually takes 2–7 working days from dispatch.
- Royal Mail: Available for a limited range of non-liquid UK orders. Usually 5-10 working days from dispatch.
- Free UK mainland delivery: On orders over £200.
- International delivery: Usually 5-10 working days from dispatch.
Shipping costs: Add the items you require to your shopping cart and click ‘View cart’. Towards the bottom of the cart page, click ‘Calculate shipping’, select your country and enter your postcode. Then click ‘Calculate Shipping Costs’ to see the delivery charge.
VAT, import taxes and duties: For orders delivered outside the UK, we do not charge UK VAT once the delivery country has been selected correctly. Your destination country may charge its own import VAT or other local taxes when the goods arrive. Customs or import duty may also apply, depending on the product and destination. Import VAT and customs duty are separate charges, although the courier or customs authority may collect them together. We do not include these charges in our prices or delivery charges, and you are responsible for paying them.
Please click on the link below to download the SDS for this product:
Preparing the surface for electroplating - creating a water break-free surface
Good surface preparation is one of the most important steps in successful electroplating. In fact, many plating problems occur because the metal surface hasn't been cleaned or prepared properly.
Before you start plating, your aim is to achieve a water break-free surface. This gives your plating solution the best possible chance of producing a sound, well-adhered finish.
The following guidance applies to pen, brush and tank electroplating.
What Is a Water Break-Free Surface?
A water break-free surface is a metal surface that’s completely clean and free from grease, oil and other contamination.
You can check this by holding your item under gently running water.
If the water flows evenly across the surface without forming droplets or pulling away into patches, you’ve achieved a water break-free surface.
However, if the water gathers into droplets or breaks apart, contamination may still be present. You’ll need to repeat the cleaning process before plating.
The photograph of the copper sheet above shows the difference.
On the top half of the copper sheet, contamination causes the water to gather into droplets.
On the bottom half, the water drains away evenly because the surface is clean. This is the water break-free finish you’re aiming for.
Step 1: Make Sure Your Metal Has the Finish You Want
Before cleaning, check that your item has the surface finish you want to achieve.
Electroplating follows the contours of the underlying metal. Therefore, it won’t hide scratches or turn a matt surface into a highly polished one.
If your item needs polishing, complete this first.
If your work needs a lot of polishing and surface finishing you will need to make sure all of the residue from these processes are completely removed before attempting to electroplate.
For more information, see our guide to Hand and Machine Polishing Metal for Electroplating.
Step 2: Removing Polishing Compounds, Grease and Dirt
If you’ve polished your item with Autosol or used a polishing machine, you’ll need to remove any remaining polishing compounds.
Start by cleaning the surface with a suitable solvent or our MetaPrep.
Next, use liquid detergent to remove any remaining solvent or MetaPrep.
Finally, rinse thoroughly under running water until you’ve removed all traces of detergent.
This initial cleaning stage prepares your item for the final cleaning and activation process.
Step 3: Clean and Activate the Surface
Cleaning removes dirt, grease and oil. Activation removes the oxide layer that can form on metal surfaces.
Some metals, particularly stainless steel, nickel and nickel-containing alloys such as nickel silver, need special attention because of their oxide layers.
Spa Plating offers several ways to clean and activate your work. The best method depends on the metal you’re plating, its size and its surface condition.
For Small and Medium-Sized Items
If your item has a fairly smooth surface and isn’t made from stainless steel, nickel or a nickel-containing alloy, we recommend MPU (MetaPrep Ultra).
MPU removes remaining traces of oil while activating the metal surface at the same time.
Apply it using tissue paper, making sure you treat the whole surface.
For Stainless Steel, Nickel and More Difficult Surfaces
If you’re preparing stainless steel, nickel or nickel-containing alloys, we recommend our ActiClean.
ActiClean cleans and activates the surface in one process.
It’s also a useful choice for very large items or those with uneven surfaces.
For this process, use a Carbon Electrode, preferably, or a Platinum Electrode.
For Tank Plating and Items with Recesses
If you’re preparing items for tank plating, you can use our powered Cleaning Beaker together with our Cleaner. You can use our in-house designed and manufactured MultiPlater to power this stage.
This powered immersion method is particularly useful for items with rough surfaces or recesses.
For example, some surfaces may catch on a cleaning swab, while recessed areas can trap traces of MPU. The Cleaning Beaker provides an alternative way to prepare these items.
Step 4: Check for a Water Break-Free Surface
Once you’ve completed the cleaning and activation process, it’s time for the final check.
Hold your item under gently running water and watch how the water behaves.
If it flows evenly across the surface without forming droplets or breaking apart, your item has passed the water break-free test.
However, if the water gathers into droplets or pulls away from certain areas, repeat the appropriate cleaning steps.
Don’t start plating until you’ve achieved a water break-free surface.
Ready to Start Plating?
Once you’ve achieved a water break-free surface, you’re ready to move on to the appropriate plating process for your metal.
Remember, taking a little extra care during surface preparation can make a considerable difference to your final plating result.
