Watch case repair

[classictimepiece]

Hi,
Newbie here. I'm interested in repairing watch cases. Most are chrome plated while some are gold plated. What is the best method to accomplish this? How do I strip off the old and replace with the new? What products do I need?

Thanks in advance!

[mcaswell]

What's the base metal on your cases?

[classictimepiece]

I think mostly brass.

[mcaswell]

Ok...you can't plate over chrome, so that needs to come off.

By using a weak solution of muriatic acid and a stainless steel or lead sheet, you can reverse plate the chrome off. Because chrome plate is a very thin layer, the chrome is stripped very quickly. You can also buff the chrome off with an abrasive compound, such as emery.

You can plate over gold, so you can leave any existing gold metal.

You then then replate them with gold using a gold kit, see http://www.caswellplating.com/kits/goldpl8.htm

If you want to re-chrome them, I suggest a Triple Chrome Plating Kit (http://www.caswellplating.com/kits/triple.htm). Our Copy Chrome kit will also work, but it's a nickel based product and some people have a skin reaction to nickel.

[classictimepiece]

Thanks for the info. Would the Plug N Plate be an option?

[mcaswell]

Yes, but if you have many to do, the process will be very time consuming.

[tbloss001]

Another way to remove chrome (not the nickel, JUST the chrome) is to deplate it with an alkalie solution.

I use:
50/50 solution of Liquid Plumber and distilled water
(regular lye based liquid plumber, no foam or anything)
stainless steel anode
3 volts @ 300 milliamps

I've used this with a brush setup and in a small tank
(my "tank" is a stainless steel, 2 quart saucepan I bought at wallmart for $5 bucks. The stainless steel pot itself, is the anode)

I'm just telling you what I use, I am in no way, suggesting anyone else do it this way.