Stripping for re-plate or polish

Discussion in 'General Shaving Talk' started by Old School, Mar 9, 2021.

  1. Old School

    Old School *$&%@#~

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    I've got a few DIY plating kits, silver, nickle, and copper and I'm now researching prep, specifically stripping the plating.
    I've seen comments on boiling w/vinegar and water with mixed results.
    I saw a comment elsewhere "oven cleaner works well", with no comments or specifics.
    One 2013 thread was revived in 2019 with the comment "you need to reverse the electroplating process, a laptop charger works great"...again without details or a response to follow up comments asking for them.

    I guess I should have led with the question...Does anyone know of a good DIY to remove plating w/o ordering chemicals that will put you on a government list lol?

    I'm planning on replating 3 slims and a fatboy for fun and to re-home...hopefully with enough "profit" to justify funding more of the same projects. Save the razors!

    edited to add I've got plenty of super speeds and spare parts to start with before ruining an adjustable lol!
     
  2. BBS

    BBS Well-Known Member

    Try muriatic acid. It is sold at home depot or lowes as concrete cleaner.

    You should be able to do it electrically by reversing the current in the plating process.
     
  3. Old School

    Old School *$&%@#~

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    There's the million $ question. HOW does one reverse the process?

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  4. MrEE

    MrEE Half Naked Shave Stalker

    The easiest way is to buy the nickel stripper they sell at Brownell's. It does have to be disposed of as hazardous waste, but it will strip the nickel and leave you with clean brass. The second best way is diluting battery acid half and half with distilled water and 30 mL per L of glycerin. You need lead cathodes and a sturdy power supply. Strip the razor as an annode paying very close attention to when the nickel is gone. It will attack the brass as soon as the last of the nickel goes away.
     
  5. BBS

    BBS Well-Known Member



    He uses a 50/50 mix of sulphuric acid to water solution with a 12 volt car battery. You should be able to substitute the muriatic acid for sulphuric. Just do it in a well ventilated place.
     
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  6. Old School

    Old School *$&%@#~

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    For now I've got one soaking in easy off oven cleaner. Going to give it 2 hours and check back.

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  7. MrEE

    MrEE Half Naked Shave Stalker

    I've done it with deluted Sulfuric Acid and 30 grams per L of glycerin which helps prevent pitting of the brass substrate.

    These are pictures of when I stripped my own razors.

    You can use other acids as suggested but they'll interact differently with the brass underneath and may cause pitting.

    PSX_20210309_080448.jpg PSX_20210309_080426.jpg PSX_20210309_080506.jpg

    This method is not difficult and battery acid is only about $8 at an auto parts store.
     
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  8. Old School

    Old School *$&%@#~

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    Don't know if I'm happy or sad to report this Fatboy cleaned up so nicely that it's no longer a candidate for replating... even the paint is still 90% there.
    Think I'll move this one on as an original preservation!
    [​IMG]

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  9. Old School

    Old School *$&%@#~

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    I've got a nice dc power supply. Recommended voltage and current?
     
  10. MrEE

    MrEE Half Naked Shave Stalker

    I just used a 12V car charger at 12V and 10 amps. It cooked the plating off in about 30 seconds. Now I'd recommend using a max of 3 or 4 amps.

    I haven't electro stripped since I purchased a chemical nickel stripper. Much much nicer than generating all that H2 gas and having to cut the power before it starts oxidizing the brass.
     
  11. Old School

    Old School *$&%@#~

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    For the record Easy Off had no effect after 2 hours. It did clean the grime off, I guess that's some effect lol.

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  12. DaltonGang

    DaltonGang Ol' Itchy Whiskers

    Why do you really need to strip off old nickel plating, just to re-nickel plate something?? I have done some home nickel plating of razors, years ago, and as long as you polish the razor out smooth, it will work fine. Just sand and polish out the areas that are marred up, and plate it.
     
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  13. romsitsa

    romsitsa Well-Known Member

    There are different types of plating solutions, one will stick to nickel the other won’t.
     
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