Watch Plating Basics

[gte619n]

Hello all,

I just recently started into the vintage watch repair hobby. After moving into a condo from a house, the old motorcycle/automobile wrench twisting is no longer an option. So I've familiarized myself with the mechanical portions of the watch pretty easily, but am currently at a loss in terms of the plating procedures for the cases/parts of the watch.

Basically, what is "Base Metal" and how do I plate it? What is "gold filled," and how do I handle that? Stainless steel? Basically, I'd like to be able to take one of these old watches, electronically strip the tarnished/crappy finish, buff/polish, then replate.

Could someone detail the equipment I'm going to need to do this? I'm familiar with electroplating process from my car days, but I'm not exactly sure how to do this in a bench setting? (My previous process was: 1. remove part, 2. deliver part to plater, 3. pickup)

Also, to start, I'd like to be able to do gold/nickel, but I'd like equipment that would be able to handle more exotic finishes as I get more daring/experienced.

Thanks for all your help,

Evan

[bhhodges]

base metal is=the metal that the watch is made of ---are they brass if so will be much easier to plate.

what final finish are you looking for?? gold maybe??

bill