CIR Electroplating

Silver Plating

CIR Electroplating offers silver plating services to customers throughout the UK, and is able to undertake a wide variety of silver plating jobs. We have experience plating ornaments, jewellery, silverware, trophies and electrical components. Our in-tank silver plating solution leaves a bright silver deposit of 99.9% purity. By comparison, Sterling silver has a purity of only 92.5%. The process can be applied to a range of metals and can give a bright or satin finish. Find out more by visiting CIR Electroplating online.

Gold Plating

CIR offers gold plating services using both in-tank and brush plating techniques. In-tank gold plating solutions produce a hard gold deposit of 99.8% purity. This equates to 23 karat. To make the deposit harder and more resistant to wear than pure gold, a very small amount of cobalt is co-deposited. The appearance, however, is that of pure gold. In-tank plating is ideal for jewellery and ornaments, as well as for technical components (i.e. those requiring high levels of electrical conductivity). 

Brush plating is used on items that are too large for the electroplating tank, or which require plating only in certain areas. 

Re-plating And Polishing

Polishing and cleaning the component is an essential part of the electroplating process. You can only achieve a bright and reflective finish if the piece is polished to a high standard. At CIR we have all the equipment we need to carry out this work, including mop polishers and tumble burnishers. A small amount of final polishing is included as part of the service, but deep scratches, dents or pits will require extra work. Polishing, along with repairs and re-soldering, is therefore offered as a supplementary service. After polishing, the pieces are thoroughly cleaned and degreased using an ultrasonic tank cleaner or electro-cleaner. 

To help keep the cost of plating down and speed up the service, we recommend workpieces are sent to us fully polished and cleaned. 

Electroforming

Electroforming is a very similar process to electroplating - it uses the same technique, but gives a slightly different finish. In electroplating, a relatively thin layer of metal is applied to the surface; in electroforming, a much thicker layer is applied (up to 1mm).  Electroforming is often used to create unusual jewellery, to metalise resin casts or give a thick, rigid coating to various metallic or non-metallic objects.