Short answer
Degrease at 10 to 12V DC, then stroke the silver pen over the surface at 5 to 6V. Silver plates directly onto most metals, including copper, brass and steel, with no underlayer; only aluminum and chromium are not supported. A standard pen deposits about 0.5 µm in 2 minutes on a 1 in² area, and the heavy-duty pen about 0.8 µm.
Where silver plating pens are used
- Electrical contacts where high conductivity is required
- Large-area contact plating in industrial switchgear and bus bar applications
- Touch-up on silver-plated parts where a full tank dip is impractical
- Restoring silver on silverware and serving pieces
No underlayer on most metals
Gold, nickel, rhodium and palladium each need the right base layer before they bond. Silver does not. It plates over any metallic surface except aluminum and chromium, so on copper, brass or steel you degrease and go straight to silver.
Step by step
- 01
Remove oxide and discoloration
If the surface is discolored or oxidized, polish it with a fine metal polish until the oxide is gone, then wipe it clean with a lint-free cloth.
- 02
Degrease at 10 to 12V
Set the supply to 10 to 12V and use the Absorbent / Degreaser pen (PL-1002). Connect the part to the negative (−) lead of the power supply and the pen to the positive (+) lead. Hold the pen so the whole tip touches the surface, and move it lightly back and forth in a slow stroke. Small bubbles form as oil and grease come off. Rinse with water when done. Stainless steel takes the Stainless Steel Degreaser pen (PL-1014) instead.
- 03
Plate silver at 5 to 6V
Set the supply to 5 to 6V and switch to the Silver pen (PL-1008), or the Silver Heavy pen (PL-1018) for large areas. Connect the part to the negative (−) lead of the power supply and the pen to the positive (+) lead. Hold the pen so the whole tip touches the surface, and move it lightly back and forth in a slow stroke.
- 04
Build to thickness
Keep stroking until the finish is even. A standard silver pen deposits about 0.5 µm in 2 minutes and 0.8 µm in 3 minutes on a 1 in² area, up to 1.5 to 1.8 µm.
- 05
Rinse and wipe
Rinse the part in water and wipe it with a soft cloth.
Standard or heavy-duty silver
Choose the heavy-duty pen for bus bars, switchgear and other large surfaces. It carries more solution per cartridge, so you swap pens less often and build thicker silver.
| Pen | Price | 2 minutes | 3 minutes | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver (PL-1008) | $85 | 0.5 µm | 0.8 µm | 1.5 to 1.8 µm |
| Silver Heavy (PL-1018) | $120 | 0.8 µm | 1.2 µm | 3 to 3.6 µm |
What you need
The Silver pen ($85), the Absorbent / Degreaser pen ($65), the power supply ($220) and connector cables ($20): $390 in all. The Deluxe Kit ($540) includes the silver pen plus degreaser, copper, nickel, chrome color and 24K gold pens, which covers most mixed-metal shop work.
Frequently asked questions
Can you silver plate copper with a pen?
Yes, directly. Silver plates over any metallic surface except aluminum and chromium, so copper needs no underlayer.
Can you silver plate steel?
Yes. Degrease the steel and plate silver directly. No copper flash or nickel layer is needed for silver.
What voltage does a silver plating pen use?
5 to 6V DC, with the part on the negative lead and the pen on the positive lead. Degreasing beforehand runs at 10 to 12V.
How thick is brush-plated silver?
A standard silver pen builds up to 1.5 to 1.8 µm and the heavy-duty pen up to 3 to 3.6 µm.
Can you silver plate aluminum?
Not with the Micro-Metallizer system. Silver does not plate onto aluminum or chromium.
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.