How to Replate Metal in a Different Color

Wear appropriate safety gear. You will be working with both electricity and chemicals, so basic safety precautions are a requirement; at the very least, wear rubber gloves and protective eyewear. A rubber apron is also helpful, if available. Work in a well-ventilated area to avoid inhaling chemical fumes.

Wash and dry the metal item you plan to plate. You must create a clean surface with no dirt or oil, since these contaminants act as a barrier that protects the metal from the molecules you deposit electronically. Wash the surface of the metal under cold water, then use a clean, dry towel to dry it.

Prepare the wires. Obtain two pieces of wire, each piece with a length of approximately 24 inches. If possible, select one red wire and one black wire. Although the specific color of the insulation does not matter, using different colors will help you identify which wire carries the positive charge and which carries the negative. Remove about 1 inch of insulation from each end of the wires using wire strippers.

Put alligator clips on the wires, which will allow you to connect them to the metals involved in the plating process. Lay the exposed end of the wire into the base of the alligator clip, then use pliers to fold the base clamps closed around the wires. Attach an alligator clip to one end of each wire so each wire has a clip.

Create a cathode. Clamp the alligator clip on the black wire to the surface of the item you plan to plate. Connect the other end of the wire to the negative terminal of a 9-volt battery. This half of the connection is known as a cathode. Set the cathode to the side, and prevent it from coming into contact with the positive wire until you are ready to begin the experiment.

Create the anode. Clamp the alligator clip from the red wire onto a piece of source metal you plan to use in the plating process. For example, if you plate a surface with copper, you'll need a piece of copper to serve as the source metal, whereas if plate an item with silver, you'll need a pure silver source. Clip the alligator clip onto the source material, and attach the other end of the wire to the positive terminal of the 9-volt battery.

Prepare the electrolytic solution for the experiment; acquire the solution in advance from a chemistry or hobby supply store. The specific solution will depend on the plating metal with which you plan to work. For example, if you plate an item in copper, you may use a liquid copper sulphate solution, but if you are plating in silver, you would probably use a silver nitrate solution. The chemist at the store can help you identify the ideal solution for the metals with which you plan to work. Pour the solutions into a deep glass vessel.

Lower both the anode and cathode slowly into the electrolytic solution. Once you have submerged both of these items in the liquid, an electric circuit will become active, allowing electricity to flow freely through all the material.

Wait for the plating process to complete. As electricity flows through the matter, the source material receives a positive electric charge. As the material dissolves into the solution, the molecules become attracted to the target material, which has a negative electric charge. The amount of time it takes for this process to complete varies depending on the strength and age of your battery, the size of the item you plan to plate and the purity of your source material. Check the experiment every couple of hours until you achieve the ideal level of plating.

Remove the anode and cathode from the solution. Disconnect each from the alligator clips, and rinse each under cold water before placing them on a clean towel to air dry. Wear gloves when handling these materials.