How to Do Gold Plating

Gold plating involves hazardous chemicals and electricity and safety equipment. It should not be attempted without training in the use of these chemicals and the training to deal with an emergency if an accident occurs. Depending on where you live the regulation of use and disposal of the chemicals is specifically regulated. The cost of your gold solution fluctuates with the metals market. Price of gold goes up so do your costs.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• gold plating machine
• quality gold solution
• sulphuric acid solution
• paddle covers
• power source
• chemical gloves
• eye protection
• chemical apron

1. If you are gold plating a chrome plated car part you need to remove the chrome plating by using sulphuric acid on the paddles of your plating machine to remove it down to the nickel plate. Keep the paddles moving so you don't get a dark burnt effect.

2. Once you are sure you are at the nickel level, change your paddle covers to fresh ones you can use for the gold solution. Since the removal and application uses electricity from the plating machine you must have good contact with both paddles. You coat one of the paddles with the gold solution,(it looks purple)while holding the other paddle with good contact on the edge of the object being plated you gently and quickly in continuous circular motion coat the object. Do not stay on one spot keep the paddle moving. You will see the gold start to build. You want a good coating so it will last a while.

3. Rinse thoroughly with water and there you have it. I have plated jewelry, but most of my plating was on the beauty rings of cars and motorcycles. I plated the jaguar on my Jaguar. I plated the grill on my Chrysler and the turn signal indicators on the top of its fenders, and the antennae. I have also plated things with chrome that had lost their chrome shine. You can get gold, silver, and chrome and nickel in liquid solutions, it can be expensive.

Tips & Warnings

• Be extremely careful with all the solutions. The gold is suspended in cyanide.
• The sulphuric acid is obvious. Plus the fumes can be toxic and hazardous.
• There is also a risk of shock when using the electric plating machine if you don't have it plugged into a properly grounded source.
• Remember not to polish a plated object with any polish that is abrasive. It will remove the gold easily.
• It does eventually wear from touching since it will be either a 22kt or 24kt finish.