Gold Electroplating
When gold is applied to a Copper rich surface such as brass or bronze, metal ions from these base metals will diffuse into the Gold layer and degrade its hardness and non-oxidizing properties. An anti-diffusion under plate such as Nickel should be applied to prevent this. We recommend Electroplated Nickel under Gold where part flexure of deformation is not expected and a bright finish is desirable.
Removal of Existing Plate
The first step in the restoration of your parts is the removal of all existing plating. To ensure a quality job the part must be brought down to its base metal. This is done by a chemical and electro-polarity process that removes the existing Chrome plating down to the Nickelunderplate.
Part Cleaning
After the plating has been removed, the parts are sandblasted and/or chemically cleaned to remove rust. This helps us identify the flaws (pitting, scratches, rot) in the base metal that must be addressed.
Polishing
Using a series of abrasives your parts are polished to a near mirror like finish. Over the years our workers have devised a number to techniques and tools that polish the metal without damaging the fine detail . This is especially necessary in the handling of the more delicate pot metal castings used in many older cars.
Copper Plating
After polishing your parts are Copper plated. The Copper plate both protects the metal and allows our worker to buff your parts to a near flawless condition.
Buffing
Your parts are removed from the Copper solutions, rinsed and buffed. In the buffing process soft cloth wheels are used to remove small surface imperfections and to bring the parts to a mirror shine.
Nickel Plating
Your parts are cleaned and to insure a quality bonding of the 24K Gold or Chrome products our platers Electrostaticlly apply a fresh layer of brilliant Nickel plate.
24K Gold Plating
The final step is applying multiple layers of 24K Gold to provide brilliance and luster to your parts. It is the last step in the Triple Plating Process (1)Copper (2)Nickel (3)Chrome or Gold).
Inspection
Your parts are inspected at all steps in the production process. For instance if a flaw is found after Copper buffing it is either returned for additional Copper plating or sent back to the welders to repair the defect.
Aluminum Processing
Most aluminum parts have an anodized surface that needs to be chemically removed before processing. After chemical treatment, all dents are removed prior to polishing and buffing to a mirror finish. The piece is then chemically cleaned to remove the buffing compound, and the aluminum surface is re-anodized. If desired, aluminum parts can be Chrome plated. The process is identical to the process used for steel except for the use of special pre-plating solutions to allow the Copper, Nickel and Chrome plating to adhere to the aluminum surface.
Video of gold plating application coming soon!
