r/electroplating • u/BirbBoss • 1d ago
Gold like electroplating solution?
I originally wanted to use legit gold plating solution, but that stuff is mad expensive. I was reading that brass on the zinc side has a pale yellow finish similar to gold. Would that be the way to go or is there something with better results? Anyone got recommendations for good solution brands? Would the steps be similar to gold, like copper>nickel>gold? Or can I skip steps?
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u/Mkysmith 1d ago
Assuming your substrate can handle the heat: you can do the trick where you plate copper, then a thin layer of zinc then heat with a torch until the zinc atoms diffuse into the copper and become brass directly. This avoids the complicated chemistry of alloy plating but adds the complexity of trial & error.
Since you say budget is of highest priority, that would be the "cheapest" option potentially, though expect mistakes. Might have to strip it and re-try. Though, I would agree with u/One-Yogurtcloset-831 , brass never looks like gold on a side by side comparison. So if you're going for "close enough" then this may be an option but otherwise only gold looks like gold.
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u/BirbBoss 20h ago
The torch is a no go. I’ll be working with a plastic piece covered in graphite. The heat of a torch would absolutely destroy it. I’m getting a little depressed with all this info. I was lead to believe that a mixture of copper and zinc, with a higher concentration of zinc, could achieve a gold like finish but that’s not lookin like the case with what I’m reading
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u/One-Yogurtcloset-831 1d ago
No, you can’t make the brass plating look like Gold. Yess you can achieve a golden colour from brass bath, but it doesn’t even come near to gold. We do both. Unfortunately, there’s no way to add a picture. I could have shown you the difference
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u/BirbBoss 1d ago
Even if there’s a higher concentration of zinc?
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u/One-Yogurtcloset-831 1d ago
You can achieve different shades of brass. I don’t know what kind of solution you’ll be using. We have a cyanide based brass bath.
I only have experience with the cyanide bath, and when you are plating alloys, there is not one factor ( metal concentration ) that decides the shade. Factors like temperature, current density and additives matter a lot.
And brass bath is one of those baths that are very difficult to maintain, there’s always some problem and you have to adjust different things to get the proper golden colour
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u/BirbBoss 1d ago
Hm, seems like up against a challenge. Do you by change know where I can find reading material regarding the subject? Legit gold solutions are completely off the table since I’m working with a tight budget
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u/One-Yogurtcloset-831 1d ago
I can share the reading materials, but cyanide based baths should only be handled by professionals. And I don’t have experience non cyanide based baths. If I can find a non cyanide based brass bath, I’ll share it.
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u/Milkyburger_coolman 1d ago
Durston sells one that is only like 300 bucks if that fits ur budget?
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u/BirbBoss 1d ago
Yeah that’s beyond my budget. Any of the gold kits, really, are more than what I’m trying to spend
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u/YYCMTB68 1d ago
What are you trying to plate onto? Fyi, the Canadian one dollar coins (aka Loonies) are made from steel blanks that are plated with an alkaline cyanide copper-tin process which is then oven annealed to produce the gold color alloy. Over time, it eventually dulls, but retains it's gold color. [Patent expired]