Refinishing GOLD parts - Yes or No ?

[necroscope]

That gold plating looks awesome,the real deal,You can also have a much  cheaper gold look apparently what the platers do is flash the plating with chromium.Do the back-yard nickel baths use different chems or do they just plate nickel.

My Nickel and plating kit are only suitable for small baths. This part is just too big.

I think "gold plating" is an interesting idea, I could do the habittrail at the same time. How expensive is it ?

using 22ct gold would probably be expensive.

[ktm450]

Those gold parts look amazing 

[Strangeways]

http://www.prestonplate.com.au/

Literally 5 minutes from my place. I'm going to take the coin toss assembly and the habitrail to these guys for a quote.

[ktm450]

Looks like some quality work there, will be handy for you, being so close, if it works out cheap enough for future restorations

[Caveoftreasures]

http://www.prestonplate.com.au/

Literally 5 minutes from my place. I'm going to take the coin toss assembly and the habitrail to these guys for a quote.

Nino, make sure they dont chrome the parts then paint over with gold paint then clearcoat. It looks amnazing but wears off real easy. Thats what most places do.
You will find out real quick that "gold" finishing is alot more painfull and complex than any other dam finish.
I am looking forward to see what these guys suggest. Gold is always more expensive because hardly anyone gets things done in gold, unlike chrome which lasts forever.
Dont forget before and after photos please. 

[Strangeways]

http://www.prestonplate.com.au/

Literally 5 minutes from my place. I'm going to take the coin toss assembly and the habitrail to these guys for a quote.

Nino, make sure they dont chrome the parts then paint over with gold paint then clearcoat. It looks amnazing but wears off real easy. Thats what most places do.
You will find out real quick that "gold" finishing is alot more painfull and complex than any other dam finish.
I am looking forward to see what these guys suggest. Gold is always more expensive because hardly anyone gets things done in gold, unlike chrome which lasts forever.
Dont forget before and after photos please. 

Thanks for the tip, Brett. I'm hoping they are open tomorrow or Monday. I'll ask about "real" gold plating. The buyer has requested this game to be "collector's quality". No expense will be spared 

[necroscope]

I'll ask about "real" gold plating. The buyer has requested this game to be "collector's quality". No expense will be spared

Thats one lucky guy buying your game.

[Caveoftreasures]

real gold is just crazy with gold currently sitting around $1700 per ounce. It will be far too expensive. 

see if the copper plating can be done so it looks gold. there are so many ways it can be done. gold annodising just may be the answer. choices. choices. choices. have fun with it. a new finish is like a new toy. 

[MartyJ]

OK,

JPOP has very kindly replied to my email and the answer is that the gold finish on WCS94 (at least) is Zinc-Dichromate.

So straight from the designers mouth (well keyboard). 

[Strangeways]

OK,

JPOP has very kindly replied to my email and the answer is that the gold finish on WCS94 (at least) is Zinc-Dichromate.

So straight from the designers mouth (well keyboard). 

Thanks Marty, I'll quote that to the metal plater.

[Strangeways]

Interesting. I've spoken to a few local platers and they have suggested either gold or brass plating. Zinc Dichromate is more of a "dull" finish that is used for nuts and bolts. Maybe this is what the finish originally was ? So I'm told, the finish is not as polished as gold or brass, but it will have a "rainbow" effect through the surface.

I'm dropping into Preston Platers this week to see what I can learn about it and then I'll look at my options. Seems they already do work for pinball enthusiasts !

[Strangeways]

The Coin Toss assembly was not originally finished in Zinc Dichromate, as John Pop has suggested (well mine wasn't). I did see the actual finish on some nuts and bolts and it is a dull finish with a rainbow effect when held up in the light. The finish on the coil toss ramp is likely nickel, then brass with a clearcoat. But no one can say that this is EXACTLY what was done. Whatever method was used - it was cheap and nasty.

I don't have any real options that are feasible. GOLD plating is too expensive as is Brass and there is no guarantee that the inside of the assembly will "take" the bath process. The brass method will cost over $100, and most places didn't seem keen.

The main ramp will be replated in a "gold finish" - obviously not real gold, but I saw some of the gold plated parts hanging in their shop and it looked amazing.

I'm still not entirely convinced, but I didn't do anything with the coin toss assembly, but the main ramp will be re-plated.

I can have both Chrome plated, but I wanted the gold finish.

[Caveoftreasures]

Nino, can u take a photo of the part u want to get done gold with your hand next to it so I can see the real size of the object.

It seems up here the plating cost is apx half of what they have quoted. Is it fair to say you will have to get the coin toss part done the same plating way as the ramp to keep it looking the same, IF u were to do it ? What specific method are u doing the ramp finish in ?

[pinsanity]

The Coin Toss assembly was not originally finished in Zinc Dichromate, as John Pop has suggested (well mine wasn't). I did see the actual finish on some nuts and bolts and it is a dull finish with a rainbow effect when held up in the light. The finish on the coil toss ramp is likely nickel, then brass with a clearcoat. But no one can say that this is EXACTLY what was done. Whatever method was used - it was cheap and nasty.

I don't have any real options that are feasible. GOLD plating is too expensive as is Brass and there is no guarantee that the inside of the assembly will "take" the bath process. The brass method will cost over $100, and most places didn't seem keen.

The main ramp will be replated in a "gold finish" - obviously not real gold, but I saw some of the gold plated parts hanging in their shop and it looked amazing.

I'm still not entirely convinced, but I didn't do anything with the coin toss assembly, but the main ramp will be re-plated.

I can have both Chrome plated, but I wanted the gold finish.

If you don't mind doing a bit more running around, these guys in Melb do Gold Plating

http://www.masterelectroplating.com.au/

Not sure where they are in relation to you, but I do know they will gold plate ramps, assemblies etc with a quick turnaround time of about a week (a friend in Melb has had pinball ramps gold plated with them)

As said in my earlier post a couple of pages back, if you are only gold plating a wire ramp (smaller surface area) it should be a reasonable* price, but once you get into large surface area items like the coin toss assembly is when the price will add up.

*reasonable being a relative term.

[Olivia_jason]

that sucks about the gold plating, hopefully you can find another option. but if you had to get the coin toss chromed which i am going to do on mine. i dont think it would look out of place, it would look really good imo