Electroplating Safety

When electroplating any piece of metal in your workspace, it is absolutely important that you exercise safety and take the proper precautions to avoid any kind of injury. Since the chemicals used in an electroplating process are very harmful, knowing how to handle them is a must. Below, you will find a list of important electroplating safety instructions and tips to help keep you safe during the process.

Important Electroplating Safety Instructions

The solution used in electroplating is called electrolyte, and it contains sulfuric acid, which is highly corrosive and should be handled with extreme care. If any electrolyte should spill onto your clothes, remove the clothes and rinse with cold water immediately. If the solution gets into your eyes, flush your eyes with lots of water and call a doctor immediately. If you ingest any solution, do not induce vomiting; instead, call a doctor right away. Here are 10 additional safety instructions for electroplating:

• Always wear safety goggles and safety gloves at all times during the entire electroplating process.
• Keep the electrolyte out of the reach of young children and animals.
• Never store the electrolyte in any container that is made out of metal as the solution will chemically react with metal substances.
• Keep the electrolyte solution stored between 40 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit in its original plastic bottle with the lid sealed on tight. Always use the plastic funnel from your electroplating kit to transfer it to and from the original bottle and the wide mouth process container.
• Never store electrolyte in the wide mouth process container.
• Never allow electrolyte to come in contact with household chemicals or cleaning materials as a reaction can either release dangerous gasses into the air or render the electrolyte useless.
• When you set up your electroplating workspace, always make sure it is close to a cold water source (or buckets of cold water) in a well-ventilated area.
• Never smoke while electroplating.
• Never eat or drink while electroplating.
• Never electroplate anything under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Always exercise caution when electroplating any piece of metal, and never fail to take the right steps to ensure your safety, the safety of those around you, and the safety of your workspace.

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