Short answer
Standard Micro-Metallizer pens build up to 1.5 to 1.8 µm; heavy-duty pens reach 3 to 3.6 µm. On a 1 in² copper surface, a gold pen deposits about 0.5 µm in 2 minutes. Each pen holds 10 ml of solution and covers roughly 300 square inches. Operating voltage ranges from 5 to 12V DC depending on the pen.
Plating rate by metal
| Pen type | 2 minutes | 3 minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | 0.5 µm | 0.8 µm |
| Palladium | 0.5 µm | 0.8 µm |
| Silver | 0.5 µm | 0.8 µm |
| Rhodium | 0.7 µm | 1.0 µm |
| Nickel | 0.4 µm | 0.6 µm |
| Black Nickel | 0.5 µm | 0.6 µm |
| Copper, Zinc, Tin, Chrome Color | 0.3 µm | 0.5 µm |
| Gold Heavy | 0.8 µm | 1.2 µm |
| Silver Heavy | 0.8 µm | 1.2 µm |
| Copper Heavy | 0.6 µm | 1.0 µm |
| Nickel Heavy | 0.8 µm | 1.2 µm |
Maximum thickness and coverage
- Standard pens: 1.5 to 1.8 µm maximum
- Heavy-duty pens: 3 to 3.6 µm maximum
- Each pen: 10 ml of concentrated solution, roughly 300 square inches of coverage
Operating voltage by pen
Power comes from the Micro-Metallizer variable DC supply (110V/60Hz or 220V/50Hz input) or your own variable DC supply up to 12V at 0.1A. The part connects to the negative lead and the pen to the positive lead.
| Pen | Catalog no. | Voltage (DC) | Plates over |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absorbent / Degreaser | PL-1002 | 10 to 12V | Cleans all metals except stainless steel |
| Stainless Steel Degreaser | PL-1014 | 10 to 12V | Cleans and activates stainless steel |
| Gold 24K / 18K / 14K | PL-1003 / 1004 / 1005 | 6 to 8V | Gold, nickel, silver |
| Gold 24K / 18K Heavy | PL-1016 / 1017 | 6 to 8V | Gold, nickel, silver |
| Nickel | PL-1006 | 5 to 6V | Copper (copper flash other metals first) |
| Nickel Heavy | PL-1020 | 5 to 6V | Copper (copper flash other metals first) |
| Black Nickel | PL-1007 | 8 to 10V | Copper (copper flash other metals first) |
| Silver | PL-1008 | 5 to 6V | Any metal except aluminum or chromium |
| Silver Heavy | PL-1018 | 5 to 6V | Any metal except aluminum or chromium |
| Copper | PL-1010 | 6 to 8V | Any metal except aluminum or chromium |
| Copper Heavy | PL-1019 | 6 to 8V | Any metal except aluminum or chromium |
| Tin | PL-1012 | 6 to 8V | Any metal except aluminum or chromium |
| Zinc | PL-1013 | 6 to 8V | Any metal except aluminum or chromium |
| Chrome Color | PL-1009 | 6 to 8V | Copper (copper flash other metals first) |
| Rhodium | PL-1011 | 8 to 10V | Nickel (copper, then nickel, on other metals) |
| Palladium | PL-1015 | 6 to 8V | Nickel (copper, then nickel, on other metals) |
Frequently asked questions
How thick can brush plating get?
Standard Micro-Metallizer pens reach 1.5 to 1.8 µm. Heavy-duty pens reach 3 to 3.6 µm.
How fast does a gold plating pen plate?
About 0.5 µm in 2 minutes and 0.8 µm in 3 minutes on a 1 in² copper surface. The heavy-duty gold pen does about 0.8 µm in 2 minutes.
How much area does one plating pen cover?
Each pen holds 10 ml of concentrated plating solution and plates roughly 300 square inches.
What voltage does brush plating use?
Between 5 and 12V DC depending on the pen: 10 to 12V to degrease, 5 to 6V for nickel and silver, 6 to 8V for gold, copper, tin, zinc and palladium, 8 to 10V for rhodium and black nickel.
Not sure which pens your part needs?
Tell us the substrate and the finish you need. Our team will tell you the sequence.