How to make simple DIY nickel plating set up - Easy Electroplating for Beginners

In this video I will show you how to make a very simple nickel plating set up and how I plated I lighter I restored. Nickel plating is process of electroplating where nickel is deposited on an item with electricity.
What you'll need:
Nickel anode: amzn.to/2ro0cAo
Power source: amzn.to/35zDBzT
Wires: amzn.to/2rjOlU4
Alligator Clips: amzn.to/2rlg8nf

[@Odd_Experiments]

Thanks for checking out my new channel! If you have ideas how to improve these videos, let me know. I will try to figure out best way of doing this type of videos without changing my style too much.

[@LucianoGardim]

A box of UV ray for clean Nintendo Consoles. Please, how work?

[@MrAdrianki]

please, a tutorial of that UV ray box to clean the yellow platic of controllers/consoles, that would be awesome!!

[@Odd_Experiments]

I will do video at some point but I can't explain the chemistry very well because it is complex and to my understanding those are just guesses about what is happening

[@cycoismynamo6663]

maybe talk in your vids i think that would be different than your other channel.

[@rekonsiliasidunia]

is possible to change vinegar with citric acid?

[@Void-gn9zm]

This is the 10th video on nickel plating that I’vr watched... I have finally gotten a clear and straight guide on how this is done. The other videos had too much blabbing and monotonous music... Thank you for explaining things the way you do. Some of us just enjoy the silence and little sounds of simplicity.

[@usernamemykel]

Silence? I didn't hear any silence...

[@thehotdogman9317]

Less is more

[@quartfeira]

For best results: use hydrochloric acid as the electrolyte solution to obtain nickel chloride. During this first step, switch + and - each 30/60 minutes. You can set up a system with a relay to do this automatically. Let it run several hours until 1 or 2 days depending on the quantity, until you see a VERY dark green color, that means that your electrolyte solution is enough saturated. At this point you can keep doing the second step as shown in the video. BE VERY CAREFUL, WEAR PROPER MASK AND GLOVES, KEEP THE ROOM VENTILATED. ACID IS CORROSIVE, so take care, the electrolyte preparation is better to do outside (that smoke too is quite corrosive, metal parts around the area may begin to rust after 1 or 2 days) For best results, a copper layer is also recommended before the nickel plating. Cheers 😁✌️

[@stclairstclair]

where did you learn this? also is there a proper percentage that the new hydrochloric acid should be?

[@chanheosican6636]

@@stclairstclair Nickel chloride with a few drops of 31% HCl (10 g Nickel salt) in 500 ml water) works great.

[@PlatingPulse23]

​@@chanheosican6636 nickle salt ?

[@JebaRooban]

Your video's silence ,objects sounds,wordings makes us to feel something special....keep doing....luv ur videos

[@alexmateusz2263]

I don't need even need to know any of this, but you're silent charisma is so funny that just keeps me hooked

[@NorthRunner64]

An old magazine article I read on plating a hammer indicated a better plate if a copper plate was applied first to ferris objects. Great video, thanks.

[@jethromaloku3136]

correct

[@we_want_chilli_willy]

This is fantastic odd fellow, I have tried a similar method of electrolysis with a sodium carbonate (washing soda) solution to remove rust from tools and parts, it works great. You should do a video on that.

[@raybin6873]

That's a great idea! (I can figure out how to do that!) 👍

[@MrCophtr]

Thank you neighbour (greetings from Sweden). Thanks to you I successfully nickelplated an old wristwatch from the mid 50s (Atlantic Milano) after I carefully took off the old damaged plating and polished the brass basemetal up to mirrorfinish. I am very greatfull and I wish you the best.

[@AwesomeRestorations]

Thanks for learning me how to nickel plate my friend 😉👌

[@Ol33MO]

I have many questions but ok

[@fruitydudexD]

Wait why are you nickel plating your friend??

[@janabroflovski2572]

Teaching*

[@VerifyVeracity]

Mr. Awesome, why do you want to nickel plate your friend? :)

[@_azureAutumn]

This, ladies and gentlemen, is why the comma exists.

[@TheNathannator]

6:19 'I used the nickel to plate the nickel'

[@electricpaisy6045]

Also used gloves to cover gloves. I think I see a pattern hier.

[@bobbofly]

@@electricpaisy6045 LOL! But seriously, though, the pattern for the wearing double gloves is a non carcinogenic one. Nickel acetate ain't the most people-friendly stuff to be dealing with. Please do be careful with it. Word to the wise... ;)

[@wrlddom]

This video was shot with the upmost professionalism, and attention to detail, you are appreciated bro🙏

[@sandyhansen]

Thank you for this video. I’ve always wanted to know how this is done. We love watching all your videos 😁

[@Odd_Experiments]

Thanks. Some metals are much harder to plate or they need liquids that produce dangerous fumes but at least nickel, copper and zinc are easy and all can be done like this if you just change the nickel to other metals

[@inhumanfilth681]

@@Odd_Experiments could i use this method to put a nickel finish on a small pistol?

[@Ol33MO]

Inhuman Filth if it’s just the case then yea I think so

[@benjaminvanschaick3658]

@@dandan3934 It is chemically possible to plate something with copper ions in solution without using a copper electrode

[@jatag100]

@@inhumanfilth681 Pistol's bluing would need to be removed.

[@aeyb701]

I just thought of it, that if you solder a wire to an inconspicuous inner part of an object you can connect your alligator to it so as not to leave unplated spots where the electrode attaches. Great video. I want to replate an old metal 1950’s kitchen coffee, tea container and my search led me here. Thanks.

[@DjoSimd]

Great video! How do you determine how long you let it « soaked » ?

[@vianocorentin4296]

Hello Odd Experiment, and thank you for this clear video ! Soon I'll try to gold plate a real rose, with a silver coating and a acid copper electroplating treatment before. Do you think this is an appropriate process for this kind of delicate and fine support ?

[@TheRetroTaco]

Great video! Love this new channel! Keep up the good work bro!

[@jasonheffner8700]

I really love watching these tutorials and restorations that you've done. Do you plan on doing any tutorials on how to use electrolysis for rust and paint removal?

[@xXspidmimsXx]

Écrit dans s

[@JohnyIIOh]

Ecrit ecrit

[@rcwoahskii3181]

Yeah this is dope tho, id love to see more how to vids for sure, and I can dig the costumization on the old grinder video, hella dope👌

[@navigatorofnone]

Thank you for the demonstration 👍👍 i wll try this myself as soon as i have all the equipments 😎

[@blackglovesdude1278]

Thank you for this tutorial. I think i'll need to properly learn this method for future projects, can you recommend me the proper tools? Like the power supply instead of a charger. I'm a newbie in this particular thing. Thank you for your amazing work, you've been a huge inspiration for me and my hobby!

[@somyRed]

Thanks 😊 I wanna to know how you do it. BTW you can show the process of whitening some pieces with the leds.

[@francocamaro9317]

Awesome step by step video with great emphasis on details that are very important to a good quality job!!!!

[@benh5749]

the nickel salts settle as time passes so a good idea along with a little heat is to mix the solution every couple of seconds/minutes as youre plating.

[@Manne0208]

Hey there, you should make a Hullcell test to see the best results for your nickel solution. You can in crease the shining of the plated nickel layer by adding saccharine ;-) add prop to reduce the surface tension and the air bobble during the plating will be smaller -> higher current -> more speed and better surface. A good temperature would be 60 C°

[@nitrofoxxx]

Good luck on the Odd Experiments channel. Will deffo be watching both channels. It's nice to see how to do stuff like Simple Plating. Thank you for the ideas.

[@allbeit582]

Excellent tutorial video. Where did you get those pieces of nickel from ?

[@slackmartin7610]

Can you store the nickel solution for later use? And does any piece of nickel work or does it have to be a special kind or something?

[@anthonyaddams6780]

Everyone should remember, that the mixture of hydrogen and oxygen makes a detonating gas, especially in 2:1 proportion. That gas is very dangerous cause it's very easy to detonate, there would be enough just one spark. So the ventilation is not just recommended, it is ablolutely necessary! P.S. Thanx for video, simple, short and clear. Salute form Russia ;)

[@jethromaloku3136]

I perfectly agree, the last and only time I smoked close to a charging lead battery (which release hydrogene the same way), it exploded and I ended with my clothes looking like a fish net...

[@user-uj3zf1xx4e]

Thank you my friend, but how much temperature can the agents bear

[@mrbussey]

Great videos on both channels! How does the voltage/amps affect the plating?

[@alanclarke4646]

The number of ions produced is proportional to the current, so increasing the current increases the number of nickel ions, meaning the plating is completed in a shorter time.

[@jell-oputin8036]

Fantastic, clear and concise instructions. Much appreciated 😁👍🏽

[@DanielFromThePast]

What do I need to start studying to do this kind of work for a living? I love restoring things, especially those from the previous century. I'm guessing that you might have an engineering or mechanics background, maybe? Whatever the case, I absolutely love your videos, and I love learning from you with each new upload!

[@faisalabuhazim3363]

Thanks for the video I went step by step to do the Plating After getting then nickel Electrolyte ( green liquid) i tried to play a steel carbon knife parts( blade , back etc) but once i put them in the liqiud it starts to make bubbles ( a lot of them) Is this normal ? Any advice on plating carbon steel knifes? With regards

[@skyborne6393]

Thanks. I just want to learn about it. Also, can the solution be stored and reused again or is it better to make a new one?

[@JustinDesilva]

Thank you for sharing. I see the nickel used in the demo is about 5mm thick but the amazon link for nickel is only 0.02" or 0.5mm thick. Does the thicker nickel perform better or worse than the thinner nickel? Could you share a link for the thicker nickel?

[@Gitnardoproductions]

Opening and closing the alligator clips had me cracking up😁

[@glorytoukraine.against_wars]

This is super cool 😍 Thanks for the video! Good luck buddy🤞💪

[@swandive46]

Thanks for all this info. I dunno when I'd ever need to nickel plate an object, but it's good to know for the future. Doesn't seem too difficult. It might be cool to restore some items one day.

[@josephmurray3583]

I have a bike it was like new 5yrs ago.. I stored it in the garage when I pulled it out recently I was feeling bad about the rusted Parts and I had not properly cleaned and polished it prior to storage. So it will need cleaning and electro-plate. Florida humidity sux... I'm 60 so many times I have seen stuff go to rust.. well FIX it or forget it. ✌️ have a great year..

[@jasonvalecruz2048]

this was a great idea for a second channel and i love it

[@r4dios1lence92]

The fingerprint plating thing seems like a neat idea for a custom job

[@marioprado860]

A lot of thanks for the video, friend. An easy, fast and effective way for nickel plating.

[@rocateclericcasoc4668]

I love your videos and thanks for this tutorial. I wanna electroplate a collar that the plating was gone long ago. Y have a question, since I can't find nickel to use can I use zinc?

[@usernamemykel]

You'd better wear a respirator and do it outdoors if you play with zinc.

[@cecilveley5722]

Awsome man thanks for the brush up. I haven’t done this in one long time ago.

[@metercedes]

Hey, good luck at your new channel! I'm one of your big fan. 😀

[@Odd_Experiments]

Thanks! I will try to improve these videos so that they fit the new channel without changing my style too much

[@metercedes]

@@Odd_Experiments Yes I see that u link back to your video at Odd Tinkering". But I still remember you as DIY Cool Stuff 😊😊. I'm pretty sure that you ate succeed at these works. Again, good luck! From Turkey to Finland 😊

[@gartenfreude796]

Question: does adding salt to vinegar make the solution something like HCL? Have you ever checked the acid level of the solution, how low the level was? I wonder if one could plate items only with the solution and electricity like in the experiments with soaked tampon like attached to metal pens, applying the solution to the item.

[@stephenfrancisvoros382]

Such a well done tutorial, I'm restoring a 1973/4 YAMAHA AG100a, I was going to send parts off for nickel plating, not now though, thank you 👍 🙂 👏

[@cruiserboy811]

Nice !! where did you get the nickel plates do you show i have tried and only get laminated and does not work the same as yours !

[@estifanossolomon]

Nice one! May I ask if the mass of the electroplated item is significantly larger than that of the non-plated? I mean can it be quantified?

[@edwinsalisbury83]

It can be significantly larger if you left it in there for a long time. Look up laws of electrolysis

[@Vic-hr2dq]

Thanks for this video. I've two questions: green liquid can be stored for future purposes? Is it possible nikel plating non conductive things?

[@Odd_Experiments]

Yes it can be stored. The nickel won't vaporize. You can always and more vinegar if needed. Edit: no you can't piste non-conductive things, unless you first coat them with something conductive

[@edwinsalisbury83]

@@Odd_Experiments that is called electrotyping

[@shabeerhusaain6119]

Hellow bro have question if i put silver ring can that become stell colour like rodium

[@RichardT2112]

Love the glove on glove action! ;)

[@CFO404]

Better to remove

[@waltercomunello121]

*puts gloves on gloves* Oh ok, I thought those were your actual hands.

[@usernamemykel]

No, those were the hands of YT's "The Crafsman". Check it out!

[@chipanderson2135]

No glove, no love. Double gloving for extra protection.

[@foorg2529]

This is cool! Hopefully this channel takes off soon. But a quick question, where did you learn all this from?

[@Odd_Experiments]

Internet is an amazing tool if you master the art of googling 😂

[@Ol33MO]

@Odd Experiments 😆

[@zamSEG]

hello sir, could i use this method to anodise aluminum? did you have any other better method for aluminum or it just same as this?

[@kirayamato7287]

Hi... Very good educational video you have there sir. May I ask, if I want to replace the material to make gold plated, is it possible using this method? Thank you

[@benjaminvanschaick3658]

Gold plating is a little more difficult...you would need to dissolve gold into solution which can get complicated and toxic. As far as plugging in gold in for nickel via the same method, I'd have to do the math but it doesn't seem impossible to me.

[@jacobmaxim07]

Do you need to nickel plate the battery tabs, or does it just help?

[@leonardomesa8851]

Thanks for the video it looks really easy!, does it works the same if i use copper instead of nickel?

[@benjaminvanschaick3658]

It's actually a bit easier to do with copper and you only need a copper salt, such as CuSO4 (Copper sulfate, commonly in pentahydrate form) as well as a copper electrode.

[@jethromaloku3136]

... and you can find the copper sulfate in a gardening shop, it's a common cure for tomatoes and vines against mildew...

[@mikebryson6093]

Can you use this on copper wiring?

[@TheZigZiggy]

That is very cool. Can you do the same thing with other metals like copper, silver, brass, tin, etc?

[@Odd_Experiments]

Basically yes. I believe the vinegars solution needs to be changed to different for some metals like gold. At least copper and wick will work like this. Brass won't work because it is an alloy. Depending on your conditions you will get a plating that is mostly only one of the metals in the alloy but it might have some impurities. Brass can be plated only in specific conditions but that is hard.

[@HliasAvramidis]

what liquid should be used for gold

[@jethromaloku3136]

you can easily plate with copper in a copper sulfate (CuSo4) solution (easy to find in a gardenning shop) the same way, with copper at the anode. For gold, only aqua regia, a mix of nitric and hydrochloric acids (HNO3 + 3 HCl) will react and it's extremely corrosive, it even attack the glass... not recommanded for DIY !

[@edwinsalisbury83]

@@jethromaloku3136 what about gold cyanide

[@AakashVerma-km8rw]

Good job bro. Highly appreciated. Please mention how to bring mirror finish.

[@zer0b0t]

Can it be polished? How sturdy is the plating?

[@CarlosSanthyago42]

Where can I find nickel? I tried to buy, but 2 week to start that makes me anxious.

[@llimo4382]

I saw both a battery pack and a power supply. Did you use both, or was that demonstrating options? Can you upload a photo of the entire setup to see how everything is connected as a whole? Thanks.

[@timstill152]

I have a lid from an antique trinket box. I want to nickel plate it. It measures roughly 5 inches by 3. A bit larger in scale than what you're doing. What kind of setup would I need to do this?

[@AnDIY_Handmade_Restoration]

nickel coating process is very well and intelligibly painted, thumbs up

[@erdtaff8722]

So, what about other metals such as copper, aluminum etc?.. Does it also works with any of them as well? Thank you.

[@jethromaloku3136]

you can plate something with cooper by using cooper sulfate as electrolyte and a cooper sheet as anode...

[@edchitoleal6695]

Can i use this method for silver plating?

[@Gabiparta]

Thanks for the vid man, cheers from Brazil

[@Quixidion]

If i got some nickel from the positive anode to the negative one. Can i switch the positive with the negative for plating or will it ruin the part, or just won't be possible. If my knowledge in science is at least somewhat good, i think, it is possible, because you don't do anything bad, but it is always best to make sure. As they say, "Drill once, measure twice."

[@brianreid4101]

Hi, well done, my question is, where can I obtain such big pieces of Nickel ?

[@leslierhodes5467]

Using this method can you plate brass with this using nickel And could you eat off of it if you plated a spoon

[@ippielb]

Would this work for copper? Or would i have to nickel coat the item before copper plating it?

[@jethromaloku3136]

copper platting is easy, you need a solution of copper sulfate and a copper anode and that's all. and generally, you copper plate steels before to nickel plate them

[@ToruxOrigin]

This is the same method for copper plating as well?

[@kyx5631]

Are you plating the clamps over time?

[@YudhaFLD]

How about the larger of the stuff.. Like old lamp of torch with big brass in it.. How about the battery or the power source.. Could it be larger that right now you showed to us here?

[@anthonyconlon8609]

I wonder could it be done without the salt? as ive to plate some steel items and the salt causes corrosion

[@SirDuckyOfAlfheimr]

That was awesome! I am motivated to try my own experiments now! Maybe devise a way to harness the oxygen and hydrogen...

[@Odd_Experiments]

You can fill a bucket with this and then have the anode and cathode in upside down containers so that the gasses rise up and fill container while the liquid moves out

[@wayveyx]

doesnt hydrogen combust in the presence of oxygen? maybe not too great of an idea...

[@twestgard2]

@@wayveyx without a spark and at normal temperatures and pressures, it won’t spontaneously combust. But the tiniest spark even from static electricity can set it off, and then you have a bomb. So yeah, you have to be careful.

[@mgburrito7829]

Can you increase the voltage/amperage to make the process faster or can you only use small amounts of voltage/amperage?

[@almostthere2516]

Too high voltage and amperage can cause both burning and nickel bubbles on the item. There are videos on KZbin explaining how much current each type of metal needs, as it is different depending on if you are electroplating gold, silver or nickel.

[@MandyWoodArtist]

Love your work and your videos - blessings from down under - NZ

[@eddiepowers2277]

Took a lot of the mystery out of the process. Thank You.

[@hosseinhayati9820]

Thanks for sharing. What happends if you use the highes voltage og you charger?

[@jethromaloku3136]

you will generate a lot of hydrogene and oxygene to the anode and cathode in place of making ions for plating the cathode, the result will accelerate a bit the platting but will also produce a large amount of explosive gaz... you know... the fuel they used to send people on the moon...

[@hosseinhayati9820]

@@jethromaloku3136 Thank you :) Enlighted :D

[@JeffMTX]

highest current you mean. Only as much current as can flow through the solution will flow, no more.

[@erikandersen4811]

Now this video was extremely helpful. Thank you for sharing these details. 🙂

[@aj.blosser]

Would this work on a larger scale? Say if I filled up half of a 5 gallon drum so I could plate larger things? Would it just take longer or is there anything else I'd need to change?

[@jethromaloku3136]

the distance between the anode and the cathode needs to be short : if you wants to plate a big piece, you will need to use more anodes all around the piece you want to plate and you will also need a stronger courant (more amperes not more voltage) like a car battery by example

[@davouchi1]

Loved it! Thanks for sharing

[@trysam]

Very informative, With all required materials needed - the most important is how to make the solution which most videos don't specified clearly, You find the experiment is dysfunctional and ineffective, so you start searching again, most important no Talk or scream. Thank you🎣

[@jakethesnake4040]

So cool. I’m learning so many new things from this channel

[@razorgcy]

Hi there. I'm thinking of nickel electroplating on my laptop heatsink/heatpipe assembly before applying liquid metal. I intent to electroplate only the coldplates of the heatsink assembly (the square copper shims that actually touch the CPU and GPU dies, not the whole assembly). How long should the part be immersed in the solution for a nice and thick layer of nickel for most protection against gallium penetrating it and reaching the copper to form other alloys, assuming a 5V (10-15W) power source is used?

[@alanclarke4646]

I wouldn't. Copper has a much higher heat conductivity than nickel, so considerably less heat will be transferred to the heatsink, probably resulting in a fried CPU. Btw where is the gallium co Inc from?

[@jethromaloku3136]

I think Thoisoi have some answer for you in this video : kzbin.info/www/bejne/onPWYXaca8uNqLs

[@annapowers1144]

If I adjusted the materials and used a different solution could I use this for other metals?

[@jethromaloku3136]

of course, one other easy plating is to use copper sulfate and a copper anode to plate a metal with copper, but some metal like gold will require strong acid that are dangerous to use without proper safety précaution like an extractor hood or full facial mask...

[@mjshaheed]

Is it OK if the salt has iodine in it? We usually only get iodised salt in India.

[@cheymcbeth]

is there a difference between two pieces of nickel for positive and negative back to power source? or both pieces are standard nickel???

[@jethromaloku3136]

2 reasons for using nickel when preparing the solution. 1. if you reverse the polarity it will work too. 2. if you use another metal as a cathode you can't reuse it for anode as once the nickel will be gone the other metal could ionize in the solution too... and yes, the 2 pieces are the same nickel

[@gipsypilot]

Hi sir, do this work also with gold anodes or other materials??

[@Odd_Experiments]

In theory yes. You need different acid to dissolve the gold and as far as I know getting a mirror finish without polishing might be hard without specific substances. They sell gold plating kits that use this same chemical principle

[@AStitchTooFar]

Loved this! Science baby! :)

[@kingofheartsxyz]

what happens if you apply a 110 or 220 volts ? faster process ?

[@JeffMTX]

Gotta be DC. Wall outlet is AC, that is, the energized prong potential (ie voltage) is changing from positive to negative ( in comparison to the other, neutral prong) 50 or 60 times per second. This plating process requires the positive electrode potential (ie voltage) to stay positive (in comparison with the other "negative" electrode) all of the time, that is, it must be DC.

[@durere]

Thank you for this video man! Bless you

[@igehring]

I have an old camera which Id like to plate. Any sugestion to make the brass matte, like if it was mechanically fine sand blasted ?

[@Odd_Experiments]

If you don't have a sand blaster I think the most affordable option would be a rotary tumbler. It's a very slow process but it's the most affordable way to get similar results, but keep in mind it's an abrasive process, like sand blasting so it will sand down the material

[@ColinsMatas]

Can you do some teaching as well? As a beginner, I want to learn some really basic stuff about the things you did in the videos. And possibly I'll try it at home without buying too many tools and devices.

[@getzapped313]

Could this process be used for chrome plating? Would love to see a vid on how to do that

[@mikeyprice7663]

No, you’ll need chromic acid as the basic substance in order to chrome plating

[@efgeebe]

Nickel is a bit hard to find, where did you get the anode/cathode from?

[@LEO-xo9cz]

What is a better option Zinc Plating or Nickel Plating?

[@reversengineer2950]

This plating can be done on mild steel also?