Gold Plating in a Workshop

The British Horological Institute has archived and edited the following from e-mails sent to the Clock/Clockers mailing lists on the Internet. The information here does not necessarily indicate a method approved by the BHI, we are only publishing this digest so that others can decide for themselves whether the methods listed below will suit them.

From: Alan Heugh

Try this: You will need a very small amount of gold electroplating solution (this is expensive, but you may be able to borrow some from a jewellery repairman) distilled water, a tiny bit of pure gold (cloisonné enamelling wire perhaps) a battery or other low voltage DC power source, perhaps some very thin steel wire (for electrical resistance if you need to reduce the current), a bit of sponge (a brush may work fine, but the metal of the ferral could cause contamination problems)

Polish and clean the brass part immaculately with ammonia and rinse very well with distilled water. Wrap or tape a bit of 24k gold wire to the feather or sponge and extend one end into the bristles. Attach the other end to a longer wire and a DC power source, I believe the positive terminal, and attach the other terminal to the metal you want to plate. (Test it on something else first.) saturate the sponge with electroplating solution and paint on real gold.

It will probably take some fussing to get the current density right, but you should be able to brighten a dull plate with a paste of baking soda and water, or very light burnishing with polished steel.

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