Editing Electroplating (section)

===Brush electroplating===
A closely-related process is brush electroplating, in which localized areas or entire items are plated using a brush saturated with plating solution. The brush, typically a [[graphite]] body wrapped with an absorbent [[cloth]] material that both holds the plating solution and prevents direct contact with the item being plated, is connected to the [[anode]] of a low-voltage and 3-4 ampere [[direct current|direct-current]] power source, and the item to be plated (the [[cathode]]) is grounded. The operator dips the brush in plating solution and then applies it to the item, moving the brush continually to get an even distribution of the plating material.

Brush electroplating has several advantages over tank plating, including portability, the ability to plate items that for some reason cannot be tank plated (one application was the plating of portions of very large decorative support columns in a building restoration), low or no masking requirements, and comparatively low plating solution volume requirements. Mainly used industrially for part repair, worn bearing surfaces getting a nickel or silver deposit. With technological advancement deposits up to .025" have been achieved and retained uniformity. Disadvantages compared to tank plating can include greater operator involvement (tank plating can frequently be done with minimal attention and the solutions used are often toxic), and the inconsistency in achieving as great a plate thickness.