how to not plate gold ???????

[troycalm]

I have an antique silver coin that is set in a silver ring with four very small tabs holding the coin in place,this is a necklace charm,my customer wants the ring and hoop regold plated but not the coin in the center ,he wants that to be kept original,and no I cant remove the coin without damaging the small silver tabs .
any ideas gang

Thx Troy

[KCV6]

I assume that you are brush plating (not that it really matters). There are masking agents that you paint over the parts you don't want plated that you peel off after plating.

I've used a hobby product called Masksol (on zinc plting only). It is used for masking plastic and metal model parts before spraying with model paints. It is a pink colour so you can see it as it is applied and after it has dried. It is basically liquid latex so don't get it on the bits you want plated. Stays wet just long enough to paint it on. I believe others have used nail polish removed with acetone (nail polish remover) after plating.

TRY THESE METHODS ON TEST PIECES FIRST. I'm 99% sure it will do the job, however that leaves Murphy a 1% chance of screwing things up. And please post back here the results so others can benefit from your success (failure).

Cheers Mark

[troycalm]

Thank you for the fast response it is much appreciated.i have the caswell gold tank setup not the brush.Also there are some small spots that have remnants of gold still there how can i safely remove the these without damaging the silver..

[KCV6]

No problems.

I would thoroughly clean and polish the item in preperation to plating, mask the bits you want left silver and then brush plate. It shouldn't matter if there is some of the original gold left. Is the item solid silver? Only ask as you don't want to polish through the silver. I polished a silver cup that the owner assured me was silver... dohhhhhhh, try brass, silver plated. They had to get it re-plated silver.

I do stress, try whatever you are going to use as a masking agent on say a polished nickle coin first to make sure you are happy with the edges between the nickle and the gold. I would hate to see you do it and not get a good result.... makes me look bad. LOL

Cheers Mark

[KCV6]

brush.. dohhhh.... tank. Actually as you are doing small parts it wouldn't hurt to brush plate. I assume you can get a brush/make one and use the tank solution. Someone else may have to answer that.

And why won't this let me edit my post.......

[troycalm]

Thank you for your help I am ordering some maskit today.i will post my results,and yes the edges will be a task i can tell...


Thank you again
Troy