Best way to remove prior plating?

[msmith40]

This is probably a dumb question, but what's the best/easiest way to remove prior gold plating?

(Buffing wheel........?)

Thanks!

[fly]

Yea that would be the easiest way to me and their are NO dumb questions here.......
You could use the loose or spiral with the brown compound.. what are you going to do with part after you remove the gold....

[msmith40]

Afterwards I'll re-plate it. But this time I'll apply a coat of lacquer so it will last a few years.

I'd re-plated these same guitar parts a few years ago. I'd sanded/buffed everything by hand!!!! My fingers and hands were killing me, but I finally got most of the parts to shine up real good.

I then gold-plated everything and was surprised at how well they turned out. (I was actually laughing after I'd re-plated the first part. I was floored as to how easy it was!.........after all of that hard work......)

However, I didn't think to seal everything afterwards. The plating began to wear away after (approx.) a year & a half. Now I have a Dremel, and plenty of those small buffing wheels & compund. I've just now finished buffing one of the parts and it looks nice & shiny.

Thanks!

[fly]

You might wan to make sure to plate the gold longer, are you brush plating the gold or in a bath....

[msmith40]

Brush plating.

[fly]

I would put more plating on and try that.

[msmith40]

More plating is fine with me, but should I also apply a coat of lacquer as well?

[fly]

I don't see where it would hurt just not too thick of a layer