Newly plated gold wearing off already.

[msmith40]

I'd just replated some guitar parts the other day, and some of the gold came off as I buffed with a clean white cloth.

1) The parts looked really good. I was VERY happy with the results.
2) I used an old t-shirt (clean) to buff all of that re-plated parts, but some of the gold wore away on 2 specific parts as I buffed them. (Not a lot of gold, just some streaks here & there where the original metal showed thru. 90% of the part looked fine.)
3) I used no chemicals whatsoever, and did not apply any great pressure.
4) I buffed in same manner as other parts, and gold did not come off of those parts.

The 2 parts in question are the pickup covers. They might be made from nickel.....I'm not sure. Magnet does not stick to them. You can see exactly what they look like here: http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electron...s.html#details

I've since buffed them back to the original metal and plated them in copper. I'll gold plate them later and see what happens.

Any ideas/suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Mike

[jimcarry]

Mike
I don’t see where you posted how you plated them that is to say what system you are using
if you are using the plug and plate you just may not have gotten good heavy coverage in those areas and no matter how you plated them this may apply you just may have not gotten the clean enough to hold the plate keep us posted they look really good

[msmith40]

I used the plug & plate system.

This will be the 3rd time I'm plating them in 2 weeks.

Thanks!
Mike

[jimcarry]

Originally Posted by msmith40

I used the plug & plate system.

This will be the 3rd time I'm plating them in 2 weeks.

Thanks!
Mike

brush plating gives you a nice finnish but may not be giving you enough coverage you might try going over them a few times to get a better layer
of gold over the part

[mcaswell]

Did you do a waterbreak test prior to gold plating? You may have a surface prep contamination problem, especially if it came off only in spots.

[msmith40]

Did not to a waterbreak test.

Keep in mind that these same parts had ben re-plated by me a few years ago. The plate went on fine and wore off under normal guitar use and was somewhat expected.

This is different. There are little streaks where the base metal peeks thru.

I've since;
1) Buffed 'em back down to bare metal
2) Copper plated them.........they looked GREAT! No streaks at all after buffing.
3) Gold plated them (over the copper). The bare metal is not peaking thru, but I'm seeing longitudinal whitish streaks......same direction that I brushed. Streaks appear right after plating, and prior to buffing.

I'm gonna have to buff this plate off and try it again............%#$@#!


Thanks!
Mike

[bhhodges]

just spend a extra minute on the areas, also your best finish for gold would be a nickel under the gold not copper. also to delay wear try a clear coat over the gold but it will still wear in time anyway.

Bill