Electroplating Services for Small Parts
We plate small work. Knife fittings, brackets, trim, tooling, model parts, instrument hardware, restoration pieces — the kind of job most plating shops turn away because it will not fill a tank. There is no minimum order and no setup fee on small parts.
Send a couple of photos and tell us what the part is made of. That is enough for us to quote.
Nickel plating
The workhorse finish. Nickel is hard, corrosion-resistant and takes a bright mirror polish or a soft satin depending on how the part is prepared. It is the usual choice for tooling, fasteners, brackets and anything that needs to survive handling.
- Bright nickel — mirror finish, shows every flaw in the substrate, so prep matters.
- Satin nickel — softer sheen, far more forgiving on parts that are not perfectly polished.
- Takes well on — steel, brass, copper, and over a copper strike on zinc or pot metal.
Copper plating
Used two ways: as a finish in its own right, and as an undercoat. A copper strike gives later layers something to key into, levels out minor surface texture, and is often the only way to get nickel or silver to adhere to difficult base metals.
- Strike — a thin adhesion layer beneath another finish.
- Build — a heavier deposit that can be polished, or left to patina.
- Note — bare copper darkens over time. That is often the point, but say so if you want it lacquered.
Silver plating
Decorative and highly conductive. Common on instrument parts, contacts, jewellery findings and restoration work where the original finish was silver. Silver tarnishes; we can lacquer it on request, though that rules out any electrical use.
Gold plating
Flash and accent work rather than heavy deposits. Suited to small decorative parts, jewellery findings, trim details and contact surfaces. Gold is quoted by the piece because the cost tracks the surface area closely.
Base metals we plate
Steel, stainless, brass, bronze and copper plate directly. Zinc, pot metal and die-cast parts need a copper strike first — tell us if you are unsure what a part is made of and we will work it out from photos.
We do not plate aluminium, plastics, or anything that has previously been chrome plated without stripping. If a part is pitted, painted or rusted, say so — prep is quotable work and it changes the price.
Turnaround and shipping
Typical turnaround is five to ten business days from the day your part arrives, plus return shipping. Rush work is sometimes possible; ask when you request a quote. Everything ships from the USA.