Metal plating in jewelry creation is a process of depositing a thin layer of one metal over the surface of another metal. This process is used for decoration, to improve brightness and shine,and to add value. As a jewelry designer, you may want to create your designs in a base metal such as copper, brass, stainless steel, or bronze and then have your designs plated in gold or silver.

There are many reasons to have your jewelry designs gold or silver plated. One reason is that the metal plating process allows you to offer your jewelry designs economically and thus appeal to a wider range of clients.

For best results, have your jewelry designs professionally plated. Here is the process to prepare your jewelry components and designs to be professionally plated in the precious metals of silver and gold.

Create Your Metal Components

Design and create the metal components of your designs in the base metal of your choice. Cut and shape your base metal designs with steel saws, steel files,and leather and steel hammers. Refine and finish the edges and surfaces with sandpapers in grits from coarse to fine.

If you will be soldering and joining pieces of metal, make sure that all component parts fit together perfectly. This means that all flat and curved surfaces fit against adjoining surfaces with no gaps or misalignments.

Texturize Your Metal Surfaces

Once your metal parts are formed, you can apply surface designs and textures to your components. You can do this by hammering them with a chasing hammer and by stamping them with steel stamps.

Another method is to use a flexible shaft rotary power tool with texturizing wheels to create different surface textures. Component parts can also be sandblasted to create a grainy surface texture. Different grades of sand can be used to create small or large marks on the metal to create a surface finish.

Solder Your Metal Components

To solder your metal parts, place them close to each other on a soldering block so that the areas that you wish to join are touching. Add a drop of liquid flux with a paintbrush to the area where the components touch.

Use a torch to heat your metal components to a glowing red color. While they glow, take a damp paintbrush and pick up a small chip of solder,and then drop the chip onto the area where the components touch.

The solder will instantly melt and flow into the pieces of metal. Allow the soldered parts to cool on the soldering block fora minute. Then pick them up with a pair of tweezers and quench them in a cup of water.

Clean Your Metal Components

After forming, texturizing, and soldering your metal components, thoroughly wash them with soap and water and rinse well. This process will remove oils, markings, adhesives, dust, and other debris.

Next, steam clean your metal parts with a hand-held steam cleaner to blast off any impurities that may remain on the textured surfaces of the metal. Once your metal components are completely clean, handle them while wearing cotton gloves. This treatment will keep your materials clean in preparation for plating.

Gold or Silver Plate Your Metal Components

Take your prepared metal components into a professional metal plating company. Tell the plating company what base metal you used to make your designs and the process you followed to prepare them for plating.

For complete metal plating services, contact us at General Brite Plating. Our expert technicians can plate and finish your jewelry designs in the metal of your choice. Call us or come into our offices for a free estimate on all of our services.