Most gold plated jewelry is made with a silver base, but other metals, such as copper or aluminum, can be gold plated as well. Silver and gold tend to diffuse into each other, which can cause a plated piece to become dull or tarnished looking as the gold plating wears. Layering the silver with copper first can create longer-lasting luster because it’s not as reactive to gold.
The average gold plating kit will include a liquid gold solution, an electrical supply, and a plating wand or brush that links to the power supply and directs where the gold is bonded. An all-inclusive kit is ideal; due to the nature of gold plating, you may need other solutions or accessories depending on what metal or item you are working on. Gold plating solutions regularly come in 14-karat, 18-karat, or 24-karat gold. The color of the finished product may vary depending on the karat levels. Colour may also vary when metal alloys, such as copper or silver, are added to the plating solution.
Purchasing a start-up kit designed for gold plating is optimal. However, If your kit did not come with a source for the electrical current, do not worry because you can still set up your own. The process requires a DC power source, so you may need to purchase a rectifier in order to change an AC power source (such as a home outlet) to DC. The easiest solution is to purchase a variable power supply. For small home projects such as gold plating a coin or a pen, you can purchase an inexpensive variable power supply, which makes setting up your power source as easy as plugging it in, clipping your kit’s plating brush to the positive output, and setting the voltage dial to your kit’s specifications. For most kits, the current is going to be somewhere around three volts, though some may go as high as twelve volts. [3] X Research source
Wear cotton gloves to avoid leaving skin oils or other deposit on the item.
If your kit does not come with a cleaning solution, you can use a household degreaser and buff the item yourself. Rinse it thoroughly in clean water after. Be sure to remove all fingerprints, smears or any other residue. The surface of your item should be completely smooth.
Alternatively, you can dip your item into the beaker with the activating solution and fully submerge it to coat it. However, the brush must also be in the activating solution with the item since the brush is also the anode helping to charge the surface of the item.
Your kit will recommend several passes with the wand. If submerging the item, the amount of time will vary by object, but you will likely need to leave it in the solution for ten-to-twenty seconds. You will also want to rotate the item halfway through to give each side equal time directly facing the anode for even and equal deposition. [5] X Research source
The plated gold will be hard and dry almost instantly.
