Electroless Nickel Plating plastics

I wanted to share a short but to the point video on the basics of Electroless Nickel Plating. i am sorry if I was not very clear, but I will be listing it here.
1- Flame Torch the plastic to enhance chemical absorption and adherance of the Nickel to the plastics. This removes the need of etching that uses very toxic chromic acid.
2- Stannous Chloride Sensitizer(I have tested other sensitizer that have work) 3 minutes dip
3- Palladium Chloride Activator(I have yet to test other less expensive Activator)
4- Nickel Sulfate Reducer(The Palladium particles reduce the Nickel ions to Nickel metal catalytic sites)
5- Electroless Nickel(Caswell One Plate simple one step process)

[@chrisb8479]

Very informative video. Could this be applied to a painted metal surface that has plastic parts attached? Thanks.

[@heathenxyt]

Finally received my caswell chemicals for electroless plating plastic parts. Question: How hot do you get the final nickel plating solution?

[@nicamarvin]

Depends on the plastic heat tolerance. For 3D prints I do 160.

[@ByDesignation]

this is amazing. how strong is the plating on the plastic? I’ve nickle plated plastics with a conductive coating using traditional electroplating, which gives a very tough plating. I’m wondering how this would compare.

[@nicamarvin]

This is for Aesthetic purposes only. like spray on Chrome or chrome paint. but it can be used as a conductive paint alternative for high detail parts.

[@gearoidmurphy4988]

This is really cool, I've tried using the Caswell process for plating my SLA prints but the temperatures required for the degreaser and electroless nickel plating solution are too high. Can you please share the details of the reducer? Also, did you use the electroless nickel plating solution directly or did you water it down as per Caswell's instructions?

[@nicamarvin]

Hello, I sent you an email with the Formula and additional info. When using the Caswell Electroless process I plate the parts at a lower temperature of about 155-160 no more than that and it works. The reducer is simply just Nickel Sulfate as prewash just before electroless nickel, you can skip it if you like.

[@brunoburtoni8479]

Is your solution hot? This will work with large items?

[@kefferson07]

do u know any activator whit no palladium

[@briansmith1098]

Hola Martin, que bueno esta! Se puede hacer de distintos colores?

[@nicamarvin]

Hola Brian, el Nickel tiene solo un color... Pero con pinturas transparentes se les puede dar diferentes tonos, por ejemplo las pinturas Tamiya Translucent color. Hello Brian, Nickel can only have one tone, but if you are interested in giving it a different color you can use translucent/transparent tinted clear coats like Tamiya Translucent colors.

[@akshaykumarvyas]

Hi, nice video, liked and subscribed. May i know what the reducer chemical is? Thanks

[@nicamarvin]

The Green Reducer is just Nickel Sulfate at about 20 grams per litter of DI water.

[@akshaykumarvyas]

Thanks, and the last one is nickel chloride?

[@nicamarvin]

@@akshaykumarvyas No, it's an electroless plating solution. Send me an email to [e-mail] and I will share the details I purchased from a Russian source a few years ago.

[@akshaykumarvyas]

@@nicamarvinthanks, i have sent you a mail just now.

[@brunoburtoni8479]

Sent you an email

[@thegodofwar74]

Can you realy chrome plastic this way ????

[@Dirkdiggl]

I have a 1911 handgun that has a lower that’s polymer.. is it possible to nickel plate polymer?

[@AngelSevilla-fk6im]

Yes, with the Caswell Electroless Nickel Plating for Plastics kit.

[@Dirkdiggl]

@@AngelSevilla-fk6im 🙏

[@aaroneckardt5514]

Why would you want to?

[@Dirkdiggl]

@@aaroneckardt5514 so it looks cool

[@i9videos]

Hello, I'm from Brazil, what are the names of the chemical products, and how much? How do I get the formula?

[@nicamarvin]

first give the video a like then Subscribe and send me an email requesting the formula. I purchased a formula from a Russian years ago that have all of the ingredients and steps. email to [e-mail]

[@AlbinoSpider-fr8im]

What is in the very first cup exactly?

[@nicamarvin]

Stannous Chloride Sensitizer, the next two are Di Water rinse and the amber colored one is Palladium Chloride Activator.

[@donjayamaha6174]

Will this work for copper parts

[@nicamarvin]

Copper Metal Needs to be in contact with steel/iron or nickel metal while immersed

[@OG-Insomniac]

Can you drop product link's

[@AngelSevilla-fk6im]

Caswell Plating Electroless Nickel For plastics.

[@Elahekiani]

Email address