How to Design Gold Electroplating
Electroplating is a process in which the physical qualities of an expensive metal, like gold, are plated onto a cheaper base metal through a process called electrolysis. Both pieces are placed in a liquid solution designed to facilitate the plating process, and connected to positive and negative charged electrical prongs, powered by a battery or power cord. Most gold jewelry is the result of electroplating. Several aspects should be considered, however, before plating gold onto another metal piece.
Instructions
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Evaluate the porosity and luster of the metal piece being electroplated. If segments of the piece have dozens of tiny dimples or impressions, it is porous and needs a base plating of copper to fill the porous areas. Metal that lacks shine when placed under a light can be plated with nickel to add brilliance before the final gold plating is added.
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If the shape of the metal piece is three dimensional, the gold may not plate evenly over the surface of the object. Hollow metal pieces are also poor candidates when designing gold electroplating because the solution the metal pieces are plated in can get inside the piece. You should also avoid concave metal pieces because the gold plating may not extend into the crevices of the piece.
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Determine how you want the final gold plating to appear. For a satin finish, the base metal being plated must be treated with a brush-polishing wheel. For a flat or matte finish, sandblast the metal piece before beginning the plating process. If you want a "black gold" look to your metal piece, place it in an oxide solution after the final gold plating is complete.
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