Where the
world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989


-----

Help a beginner get started

Could someone please tell me a very inexpensive and simple way to practice EP (electroplating) using stuff I can easily buy or find in the home? The simpler the better because I'm on break from college and I need something to do. I became interested in this when I saw that a low charge battery could electroplate a coin in gold, but I have no idea what chemicals I need or how to do anything. Please help, I think this will be interesting and fun. I am a big guitar buff, and once I learn how to do this properly, I will likely EP my Floyd-Rose bridge if at all possible, or even EP a new set of strings to make them look cool. Thanks for our time,
Nick

Nicholas Killmeier
student, hobbyist - Otego, New York
2006

---

First of three simultaneous responses --

Have you ever considered taking some courses on electroplating? The AESF (enter as a keyword on your PC) has beginner courses you can take on a correspondence level. Gold plating can be done at home, but I don't advise it. Gold metal plating salts are cyanide based, and you should be experienced in the field and have a clear understanding of the dangers involved. You would not want these chemicals in your house for obvious reasons. There are some chemical solutions that can simulate gold, but you don't want them in your house either. Does your college schedule allow you to work part time in a plating shop to gain experience? You want to stay away from stovetop electroplating, I've heard some horror stories. Good luck in college.

Mark Baker
process engineer - Malone, New York
2006

---

Second of three simultaneous responses

There are some sheets in the FAQ section of this website that describe how to set up demonstration sets for electroplating - they would, for example, let you duplicate the plating of a coin with a battery.

However, to get a high quality and adherent coating requires the use of equipment and chemicals that are both expensive and dangerous; not something you'd really want to do at home.

If you want to try to do your guitar pieces anyway - just for the novelty of saying you did it yourself (and some people are able to get good results, depending on the process) - search through the archived letters here on finishing.com and you should be able to find enough info to make a passable attempt.

Good luck either way!

Jim Gorsich
Compton, California, USA

---

Third of three simultaneous responses --

Ignoring the question of potential regulations, which is covered in many previous letters about hobby plating here, gold plating a coin, or an item that was previously nickel-chrome plated, with a brush plating machine is a reasonably practical project for a hobbyist because it's simply a matter of getting the item clean and active then plating it. Projects that require mechanical prep, or metallizing, or nickel-chrome plating are far more difficult.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2006