Short answer
For electrical contacts and connectors, buy the Contact Repair Kit ($400): absorbent, nickel and 24K gold pens. For mixed work across copper, brass, silver and gold, buy the Deluxe Kit ($540) with six pens. The Heavy Duty versions ($525 and $900) use larger pens for thicker deposits and higher volume. Each kit costs $120 to $290 less than buying the same parts separately.
Side by side
| Kit | Price | Pens included | Bought separately | You save | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contact Repair Kit (PL-1000C) | $400 | Absorbent, Nickel, Gold 24K | $520 | $120 | Connector pins, edge connectors, switch contacts |
| Contact Repair Kit, Heavy Duty (PL-1000CHD) | $525 | Absorbent, Nickel HD, Gold 24K HD | $660 | $135 | Higher-volume contact restoration |
| Deluxe Kit (PL-1000K) | $540 | Absorbent, Nickel, Gold 24K, Silver, Chrome Color, Copper | $735 | $195 | Mixed metals, general shop and lab use |
| Deluxe Kit, Heavy Duty (PL-1000HD) | $900 | Absorbent, Nickel HD, Gold 24K HD, Silver HD, Copper HD, Rhodium | $1,190 | $290 | Production work, thicker deposits, rhodium |
Separate prices are the power supply ($220), cables ($20) and each pen at its list price.
Standard or heavy duty
Standard pens build up to 1.5 to 1.8 µm. Heavy-duty pens carry more solution per cartridge and build up to 3 to 3.6 µm, with faster deposit rates: about 0.8 µm of gold in 2 minutes on a 1 in² area, compared with 0.5 µm from a standard pen.
Choose heavy duty if you plate the same kind of part every week, or if the surface sees wear. For occasional repairs, standard pens go further than most people expect: each pen holds 10 ml of solution and covers roughly 300 square inches.
Which kit fits your job
- Worn gold on connector pins, PCB fingers or switch contacts: Contact Repair Kit
- Gold over brass, copper or steel: Deluxe Kit, because it includes the copper pen for the flash layer
- Rhodium finishing: Deluxe Kit, Heavy Duty, the only kit with a rhodium pen
- Only re-tinning PCB pads: skip the kits and buy the power supply, cables, absorbent and tin pens ($375)
Adding pens later
Every pen in the line runs on the same power supply, so you can start with any kit and add pens as jobs come up. Pens are disposable and non-refillable, which keeps the solution from getting contaminated.
Frequently asked questions
Which plating pen kit should I buy?
For electrical contacts, the Contact Repair Kit ($400). For mixed metals, the Deluxe Kit ($540). Choose a Heavy Duty version for thicker deposits and higher volume.
Do the kits include the power supply?
Yes. Every kit includes the variable DC power supply and connector cables, in 110V or 220V.
Can I buy plating pens without a kit?
Yes. Every pen is sold individually. You need the power supply ($220) and connector cables ($20), or your own variable DC supply up to 12V at 0.1A.
Are plating pens refillable?
No. Pens are disposable and non-refillable so the solution stays protected from contamination. Each holds 10 ml and covers roughly 300 square inches.
Not sure which pens your part needs?
Tell us the substrate and the finish you need. The people who build the system will tell you the sequence.