Gold Plating Removal?

[Baker69]

I worked in the jewelery trade for a while back in the early 90's and took advantage of the facilities there at work and gold-plated the machine heads on my P Bass.

They looked great at the time but now the plating is wearing slightly thin in places.

Does anyone know if/how I can get the plating removed so I can restore them back to their original Chrome finish?

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't electroplating work similarily on both directions. The solution is a bit different IIRC and the current density also differs.

Won't leave Your chrome looking pretty though, I'd imagine. In fact all the chrome will be gone most likely, just leaving the (pitted, dull) nickel and copper.

Why not just replate 'em with gold, those machine heads aren't vintage or anything, are they?

Regards
Sam

[jrfrond]

Gold plating is only a few microns thick and needs little help in wearing off.

If you use a medium-hard sewn cloth buffing wheel and any compound that is coarser than jeweler's tripoli, it should come right off.

[Baker69]

Yes, the gold plating has worn a bit thin on the main body of the tuners but not elsewhere.

They did look great when I first did them, but they are on a 1973 Fender Precision which I want to restore to its former glory.

I might try and buff it off as suggested, however I think I might have to have them re-chromed, whether this can be done on top of gold plating I don't know.

[51m0n]

Just polish them, hard - Brasso works a treat for removing gold plate. Before you know it the gold will be gone....

[Baker69]

I just happen to have some Brasso, I'll give it a try thanks.