We Specialize Electropolishing in Vancouver

How to Electropolish Your Metal Work

Do you have any metalwork? If so, you probably have some minor damage from high temperatures or rough handling. Or perhaps something is stuck in your equipment, preventing it from cooling down properly. Whatever the case may be, if you’re experiencing issues with your metal work, chances are it’s because of overheating or electric polishing. If you’ve got any metal work – be it a piece of furniture, a piece of machinery, or even a jewelry item – chances are it will one day require a little bit of TLC. Maybe it needs to be buffed to return to its original luster after being exposed to prolonged heat or prolonged cold. Maybe the finish needs to be refreshed and re-polished after getting hit by the occasional paint splatter. Whatever the case may be, chances are your metal's work will need some help to remain in top shape. In this article, we’ll talk about how you can care for and prevent overheating on your metal work so that it stays looking its best all year long!

Get A Bright, New Shine with Electropolishing in Vancouver

One of the best ways to protect your metal's work is to get it plated. In this case, we’re talking about electroplating, also known as “electropolishing in Vancouver”. This process plies your metal work with an electrical current to produce a shiny finish. The standard process is to place a copper plate in a tin can with a small amount of acid (usually concentrated sulfuric acid) added to the can to help break down the copper plate so that it can be precipitated out of the solution. The optimal temperature for plating is around 40°C, but most plated items can be left in the tank at this temperature for extended periods without permanent damage. Plated pieces should be occasionally cleaned with a mild, salt-free cleanser to remove any traces of excess acid that may have built up on the surface.

Find out how the plating process works in Vancouver

When a customer orders an item that’s plated, the first step is to get the plating in Vancouver process described above correct. Once the process is successful, the finished product should contain no visible plating. If you spot any signs of plating, such as a few dots here and there, it’s a good idea to let the customer know so that they can correct the issues before the item leaves the factory. The plating process is not transparent and requires a little explanation, but once you get the hang of it, it shouldn’t take you long to learn how each stage of the process works.

Why Mil-A-8625 Is the New Standard in Protective Coatings

After centuries of development, the plating process remains one of the most reliable technologies available for creating non-stick finishes on a wide variety of materials. This is especially true for metal, where anodizing – which is the process of plating with an electrical current – offers a long-standing and proven solution for creating excellent physical and cosmetic protection for almost any type of material. Unfortunately, the process has one big downside: It can be very expensive. The price of anodizing depends on several things, including the type of metal, quantity of materials selected and desired finish. Most general plating shops in the US only offer a basic service, which includes basic anodizing, basic buffing, and spot cleaning. Typically, a customer will come in with a Pre-fab piece of metalwork, such as a kitchen countertop, a desk, a bookshelf, or a car. The customer will pay the shop to plate their work. Once the work is plated, the customer will pay the shop to apply the finish. Then the shop will clean the work and end the process with a final bill for delivering the finished product. Unfortunately, this approach doesn’t take into account the various stages of the plating process. It doesn’t take into account the wear and tear on the workpiece, the effect of constant exposure to chemicals and the environment, or the time needed for the plating to achieve the desired finish. Furthermore, this approach doesn’t factor in the cost of labor for both the plating shop and the shop that makes the finish. The solution to these issues is the Mil-A-8625 Standard for Plating. 

The Science of Anodizing: Changing the Surface of Metal

The process of anodizing – which is plating with an electrical current – works by “building” a protective shield over the object being plated. During the anodizing process, the base metal, such as aluminum, zinc, or copper, is “anodized”, which is to say, it’s plated with an electrical current. The electric current creates a thin, uniform coating of aluminum oxide on the surface of the metal to protect it from damage. While the anodizing process protects the surface, it’s not a long-term solution. Once the anodizing process has finished, the work piece must be buffed out to return it to its original luster and appearance. As mentioned above, the finish is created by buffing the work piece to remove the oxide build-up. The final step in the production of a high-quality non-stick finish is polishing, which is done using a dedicated cloth or sponge. Anodizing and buffing are both processes that create a protective shield over the work piece. The process of anodizing, while short-term, gives the work piece long-term protection against damage. The process of buffing, on the other hand, removes the shield and allows the work piece to be exposed to the elements.