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-----Want gold "relic" type finish on plastic
Q. Hi, I am looking for a process that would create an unpolished but bright 24k gold finish on smooth 3-D printed resin. I would like the finish to look like cleaned, unpolished, almost "foggy" finish you see on Incan/Aztec/Celtic etc artifacts. I have attached a reference.
I have tried certain paints, they are not gold enough. I am currently trying 24k gold leaf with satin clear. I may also try electroplating.
Any suggestions are appreciated.
Thanks
- Brooklyn New York
May 21, 2025
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A. Hi
To someone like you who has worked on it, it's not news that it's very difficult to duplicate the look of something in a different medium -- because it's a matter of texture, not just color. Maybe you need to get the texture close before the color even matters?
My understanding is that most pre-Columbian gold was "surface enriched" / "depletion gilded", i.e., attacked with acids to remove copper and silver from the surface. I don't actually know whether this created an etched topography that offers the matte look, but it could be.
Luck & Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
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A. Electroplating is best option. You must make your print surface conductive with electroless copper or silver or even nickel and then you can gold plate it. You can brass plate it and then use special gold look patina on it too. Hope it helps and good luck!
Goran Budija- Cerovski vrh Croatia
RFQ: Hi, I got a quote for gold electroplating to two small parts (3" diameter x 2" tall and .75" diameter x 1" tall). The quote was for $2500. This is in NYC which is typically very expensive. Can anyone recommend a company anywhere that does small batches and who would potentially cost less? Thanks
Mike C [returning]- Brooklyn, New York
privately respond to this RFQ
Ed. note: As always, gentle readers: technical replies in public and commercial replies in private please (huh? why?)
A. Hi again Mike.
I assume that you are still talking about plating on plastic?
The thing about that is that there is a very robust method for outstanding adhesion, as used on automotive brightwork, which involves a very elaborate pre-treatment sequence of about a dozen specialized steps. It surprises me a little, but not a lot, that such a quote ran to $2500.
But on the other hand, artists & such use a much simpler metallizing method of "painting on" a conductive material like graphite, or copper-rich or silver-rich "paint", and electroplate onto that. The adhesion with that method won't do for OEM automobiles, but is probably adequate for your sort of needs, and it opens up many additional potential sources.
Luck & Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
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