Bright Copper
A deep, mirror polished copper finish for lighting, hardware and decorative pieces, sealed with a clear coat so the color stays rich instead of darkening.
Warm Copper Finishes,
Built on Real Metal
Built on Real Metal
Bright decorative copper, antique and satin finishes, copper underlayers for show chrome and functional copper for electrical and industrial parts. Plated, buffed and inspected in one shop.
Certified, Approved and Verified
Copper Plating
The Metal Under Every Great Finish, and a Finish of Its Own
Copper does two very different jobs in a plating shop. Most of the time it works out of sight. It is soft, it bonds to almost any base metal, and it flows into the tiny scratches and pits left after polishing. Buffed smooth, a copper layer gives nickel and chrome a perfectly flat surface to sit on, which is why every true show chrome job starts in the copper tank.
The rest of the time copper is the star. A bright copper finish has a warmth no other plated metal can match, and it can be polished to a mirror, brushed to a soft satin or darkened to an aged antique tone. Lighting, door hardware, bar fixtures, range hoods and decorative trim all wear it well, as long as the finish is sealed so it keeps its color.
Copper also earns its place on industrial parts. It conducts electricity and heat better than any other common plating metal, it solders easily, and it can mask areas of a steel part during heat treatment so only the exposed surfaces harden. Those parts are judged on thickness and coverage rather than shine, and we plate them to that standard.
Tell us what the part is and what you want it to become. Send a few photos and the base metal if you know it, and we will recommend the right copper process, explain the preparation it needs and send back a written quote.
What We Do
Copper Plating Services
From a mirror bright copper lamp to the hidden copper layer under a show chrome bumper, these are the copper processes that run through our shop every week.
Satin Copper
A brushed, low glare copper with a soft grain. It hides fingerprints and light wear, a favorite for door hardware, cabinet pulls and interior trim.
Antique Copper
Copper that is darkened and then relieved by hand, so the high points glow while recesses stay deep brown. Ideal for period restorations and rustic designs.
Copper Buff Base
A heavy acid copper layer that is cut and buffed flat before nickel and chrome. It fills pits and polishing marks and is the foundation of every show chrome job.
Copper Strike
A thin first layer that locks onto difficult metals like zinc die cast, steel and brass, giving every layer that follows a solid bond.
Industrial Copper
Functional copper for conductivity, solderability and heat treat masking. Plated to a specified thickness on bus bars, connectors, shafts and gears.
Restoration Results
Before and After
Drag the handle on any photo to see the part as it arrived and as it left the shop in copper.
Before
Vintage Table Lamp
Worn, spotted brass with decades of tarnish. Stripped, polished and plated in bright copper, then sealed with a clear lacquer so the warm color stays put.
BRIGHT COPPER
BRASS
LACQUERED
Before
Antique Door Hardware
A full set of levers, plates and hinges with peeling plating. Stripped, copper plated and hand antiqued so the raised details stand out against darker recesses.
ANTIQUE COPPER
STEEL
SET MATCH
Before
Copper Base for Chrome
Pitted metal with failed chrome. Stripped down, built up in heavy acid copper, then cut and buffed flat to create a perfect base for nickel and chrome.
COPPER BUFF BASE
STEEL
SHOW CHROME PREP
What We Can Finish
Metals We Copper Plate
Copper bonds to more base metals than almost any other plating, but each one still needs the right cleaning and the right first layer.
Steel
Cleaned and activated, then given a copper strike before the main copper layer. Rusted or pitted steel is stripped and copper filled until the surface is smooth.
Brass and Bronze
Plate beautifully once cleaned. A common way to give brass lighting, hardware and fixtures a true copper color without replacing the part.
Zinc Die Cast and Pot Metal
Porous and reactive, so it needs a gentle copper strike before anything else. Pits are copper filled and hand buffed flat, the slow work most shops avoid.
Aluminum
Receives a zincate pretreatment so copper can bond to a surface that would otherwise oxidize instantly. Used for wheels, housings and decorative castings.
Stainless Steel
Its oxide layer resists bonding, so it gets a nickel strike first. After that it takes copper like any other metal, for a warm look on a durable base.
Copper and Specialty Alloys
Solid copper can be replated to restore its surface, and other alloys are reviewed case by case. Send the alloy or a photo and we will confirm before you ship.
Choosing the Right Copper
Three Ways We Use Copper
The same metal, three different goals. Knowing which one your part needs decides how it is prepared, how thick the copper goes on and how it is finished.
Copper as the Finish
- Bright, satin or antique look
- Sealed with clear lacquer
- Lighting, hardware and decor
- Color matched to a sample
- Judged by appearance
Copper Under Chrome
- Heavy layer, buffed flat
- Fills pits and polishing marks
- Covered by nickel and chrome
- Bumpers, trim and wheels
- Judged by the final chrome
Functional Copper
- Conductivity and solderability
- Heat treat stop off masking
- Plated to a set thickness
- Bus bars, contacts, gears
- Judged by spec and coverage
How It Works
Our Copper Plating Process
Whether it is one lamp or a box of production parts, every copper job follows the same five steps.
1
Send Photos
Show us the part and tell us the finish you want: bright, satin, antique or a base for chrome.
2
Get Your Quote
We confirm the base metal and the prep it needs, then send a written quote within 24 business hours.
3
Ship or Drop Off
Send the parts with your quote number, or bring them to our shop in Oceanside.
4
Strip, Strike and Plate
Old finishes come off, the surface is repaired and polished, then struck and plated in copper.
5
Finish and Seal
Parts are buffed, brushed or antiqued, sealed when needed, inspected and shipped back insured.
Copper Plating Catalog
Copper Finishes and Services
Every copper finish and copper related service we run in house.
Decorative Copper
- Bright Copper
- Polished Copper
- Satin Copper
- Brushed Copper
- Antique Copper
- Oil Rubbed Copper
- Clear Lacquer Topcoat
Underlayer and Industrial
- Copper Buff Base for Chrome
- Acid Copper Leveling Layer
- Copper Strike
- Conductive Copper
- Copper for Soldering
- Heat Treat Stop Off Copper
Base Metals and Prep
- Steel
- Stainless Steel
- Brass and Bronze
- Zinc Die Cast
- Aluminum (Zincate)
- Stripping and Replating
- Masking for Selective Plating
- Custom Sample Match
What Our Clients Say
Trusted by Professionals
From custom builders to industrial manufacturers, our clients trust us to deliver the same result every time.
Who We Serve
Who Relies on Our Copper
Designers who want warmth, restorers who need a flawless base and manufacturers who need copper that performs.
Casinos and Gaming
Slot machine trim, table rails, bar fixtures and gaming floor accents in bright or antique copper, made to glow under bright lights around the clock. Trusted by casino resorts across North County San Diego.
Lighting and Decor
Pendants, sconces, lamp bases and accessories finished in bright, satin or antique copper.
Architectural Hardware
Door handles, hinges, cabinet pulls and railings given a warm copper finish that matches across a project.
Hospitality
Bar rails, foot rests, tap handles and restaurant fixtures that bring copper warmth to a space.
Electrical Components
Bus bars, terminals and connectors plated for conductivity and easy soldering.
Manufacturing and Heat Treat
Gears, shafts and steel parts selectively copper plated to mask areas during carburizing.
35+
Years of Expertise
Take a Moment to Learn More
About Decorative Metal Coatings
We have been running copper tanks since 1989. Restorers, designers, builders and manufacturers send us parts because the copper work underneath is what makes the finish on top last.
Free Estimates Available
Send a photo of your part and receive a no obligation quote within 24 hours.
Quality Guaranteed
Every part leaves our shop backed by our craftsmanship guarantee. If you are not satisfied, we make it right.
Ship From Anywhere in the US
A single fixture or a full production run, shipped to us from any state and returned insured.
Fast Turnaround Times
Most projects are completed within 3 to 5 weeks. Expedited Orders: 5 to 7 business days. Contact us for availability.
Our Commitment
Copper Done the Right Way
Copper shows everything. Every scratch left in the base metal and every shortcut in the prep ends up visible in the finish, so we do not take shortcuts.
Proper Strike Layer
Difficult metals get the right first layer before the main copper goes on, so the finish stays bonded and does not peel or blister.
Hand Buffed
Copper is cut and buffed by hand between stages, which is what gives decorative copper its depth and chrome its flawless base.
Color Checked
Finished copper is inspected for even color, gloss and texture, and matched to your sample when you send one.
Packed to Protect
Soft copper scratches easily, so every finished piece is wrapped separately and packed to arrive exactly as it left the shop.
What We Do Differently
- We confirm the base metal before choosing the copper process
- Old plating is stripped instead of covered over
- Decorative copper is sealed so the color lasts
- We send photos when a part needs a decision from you
- Every order is inspected before it is packed
What You May Experience Elsewhere
- Copper plated straight over old, failing finishes
- No strike layer, leading to peeling and blistering
- Unsealed copper that turns brown within weeks
- Polishing marks left visible under the finish
- Little communication once parts are in the shop
Ship It From Anywhere
You don't have to live nearby to work with us.
Customers all over the country pack their parts and ship them to our Oceanside shop. We finish them, inspect them and send them back insured. It starts with a few photos.
Copper Care
Keep Copper Bright, or Let It Age
Bare copper reacts with the air. Left alone it moves from bright salmon pink to a warm brown within weeks, and outdoors near the coast it can eventually turn green. Some people love that natural aging. Most want the color they paid for to stay put, which is why we seal decorative copper with a clear lacquer unless you ask us not to.
A sealed copper finish is easy to live with. Dust it, wipe it with a soft damp cloth and a little mild soap, and dry it. Skip copper polish, brass cleaner and abrasive pads on lacquered parts: they cut through the clear coat, and once air reaches the copper underneath, dark spots start to spread from the scratch.
If you prefer a living finish, we can leave the copper unsealed so it develops its own patina over time. That choice works well on rustic lighting, garden pieces and bar tops where the aging is part of the character.
When a lacquered piece starts to show dark spots, the coating has failed somewhere. Bring it back and we can strip the old lacquer, rebuff the copper and seal it again, usually without replating the whole part.
Project Gallery
Copper Plating Gallery
Bright, satin and antique copper on lighting, hardware and hospitality pieces, plus functional copper for electrical and industrial work.
Nationwide Service
Ship Us Your Parts From Anywhere in the US
Restorers, designers and manufacturers in every state send us parts for copper plating. Here is how to get them here safely.
01
Quote before you ship
Send photos of every piece and the copper finish you want. You receive a written quote and lead time, usually the same business day. Always wait for a quote number before shipping.
02
Wrap every piece on its own
Wrap each part individually so metal never touches metal, and use at least three inches of padding on every side. Long trim and lighting arms should be double boxed.
03
Insure it and share tracking
Declare the real value with the carrier and email us the tracking number so we can log your parts the day they arrive.
04
Inspected, then shipped back
When the copper work is done we photograph the finished pieces for your approval, then pack them in fresh materials and ship them back insured.
Visit Us
Our Location
Every copper job is stripped, plated, buffed and inspected in our own facility in North County San Diego.
Decorative Metal Coatings
Copper, nickel, chrome and metal finishing in San Diego County since 1989.
- Address 2613 Temple Heights Dr, Ste G, Oceanside, CA 92056
- Phone (760) 746 3378
- Quotes Send photos and get a price
Business Hours
- Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Saturday 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
- Sunday Closed
Serving all of San Diego County and beyond
Bring your copper project to the shop from Oceanside, Carlsbad, Escondido, San Diego, Chula Vista or anywhere in the county. Outside the area? We accept shipped parts from every state.
Cities We Serve
Select your city for copper plating turnaround times and drop off options in your area.
North County San Diego
City of San Diego and South Bay
San Diego
Chula Vista
National City
Imperial Beach
Coronado
La Mesa
El Cajon
Santee
La Jolla
Otay Mesa
Riverside and Orange County
Copper Plating Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions customers ask most before sending parts for copper. Still need help? Call the shop or send a message.
Price depends mostly on preparation. A clean brass fixture needs little more than polishing before copper, while a pitted steel or pot metal part needs stripping, repair and hours of buffing. Size, quantity and the finish you choose also matter. Send photos and we return a written quote within 24 business hours.
Bare copper darkens naturally when exposed to air. To keep the color, we seal decorative copper with a clear lacquer. If you prefer a natural patina that ages over time, we can leave it unsealed.
Bright copper is polished to a mirror shine. Satin copper is brushed for a soft, low glare grain. Antique copper is darkened and then hand relieved so the high points glow while the recesses stay deep brown.
Copper is soft and levels well, so it fills pits and polishing scratches and can be buffed perfectly flat. Nickel and chrome then go on over a smooth base, which is what gives show chrome its depth.
Yes. These castings need a gentle copper strike first, because harsher baths attack the metal. Pits are copper filled and hand buffed flat. It is slow work, but it is the only way to get a lasting finish on pot metal.
Yes. Copper is plated for electrical conductivity, solderability and as a stop off mask during heat treatment. Tell us the required thickness or specification and the areas to plate or mask.
In most cases, yes. Send us a sample piece or clear photos in natural light, and we will match the color and texture as closely as possible before plating the full set.
Yes. Request a quote first, wrap each piece individually with plenty of padding, insure the shipment for its real value and email us the tracking number. We plate, inspect and ship your parts back insured.