FOLLOW THE RESTORATION: all that glitters is not gold...yet!

[gemering]

Wyatt,

I have stated many times on this forum that you are amazing!

[stevenhman]

Very cool! I'm interested in seeing how you prep the parts for plating.

[MicaMonster]

Meditation is the name of the game here. OVER-PREP.....it looks fake or new. Absolutely not what I am after. Two options...tank plating or brush plating. I am a little afraid of the results of tank plating, simply because of the sheer cost of getting it done, especially doing it yourself. I attempted brush plating some of the excellent original nickel with gold, and the results turned out so good, I surprised myself. Prep involved polishing with a liquid non-abrasive silver polish, then wiping down with lacquer thinner and washing with dish soap to remove all oils and fingerprints. Shown here is the plating gel, the contrast between nickel and gold wash, and the top casting and plated ID badge. Whaddaya think?

[phonogfp]

Absolutely!

George P.

[Curt A]

Looks great Wyatt... what brand of plating solution did you use?

[fran604g]

Wyatt, I would seriously entertain taking your restoration instruction courses. Do you offer them at a continuing education facility?

Seriously, the gold looks scary perfect.

Best,
Fran

[GrafonolaG50]

Looks great Wyatt... what brand of plating solution did you use?

What he said. Also, where do you get the plating solution and how much does it cover per "kit"?

[MicaMonster]

Plating Solution is from Texas Platers Supply. Instructions call for 3.0 to 4.5 Volts DC.....I do gold at 5V-7.5V, depending on my mood, using a DC transformer. Cost per bottle is about $80, plus brushes and roach clips for clipping piece to negative power and brush to positive power. Coverage is VERY LITTLE because gold goes on very very thin. The stuff has a shelf life, too....so you need to use it almost immediately. This machine will cost under $1000 in supplies, I think. Maybe. Steel parts will need nickel and copper plating as well.

I DO THIS SLOWLY, so I get a good buildup of metal. This makes the project a bit more costly. CASWELL sells gold solution for $100 per ounce.......which this is very much in line with.

I started working on the mandrel.....and man-oh-man....this is SCARY GOOD LOOKING. The mechanism is going to look very much like a stock original unit when I'm done. I'll need to make an onion paper sleeve or something to put on the mandrel so the white plaster from blue amberols doesn't strip off the gold!

Fran, you joke about offering a Phonograph Restoration course...... You might see me on late night public access TV selling my 10 DVD set for a low introductory price, and a small shipping and handling fee!!!

I've burned (brushed?) through my first bottle. Ordered 3 more to tide me over.

Note to beginners: As the metal salts get used up up in the gel, it turns darker green, and starts to smell like rotted mouse guts (ask my cat, she will confirm this). This is normal.

[MicaMonster]

GOLD. I'm forming a Brush Plater's Union now. Time to stand up for labor rights. No brush plating after.....8:30PM.

[Garret]