plating prep

[mark g]

Paul The pitfalls in doing your own buffing is quality. If you try to do the prep yourself to save money the plater is not going to be resposible for the end result. If not prepared correctly any and all pits or scratches will show up like a sore thumb. Then it gets into a sticky situation as to whom is at fault for a lousy or unsatisfactory chroming job. Then, if the part needs to be redone it can actually cost more. The other and equally important thing is that the old plating MUST be fully removed before new plating can be applied. Sometimes old plating, especially nickel will not "accept" a new layer of nickel even though there are ways to "activate" the old. Simply said a real mess can result including blisters and peeling. let the professional do the whole job. If any problems arise it is his problem to remedy them.
Good question though. Hope I helped
Mark G

[Paul Scheuer]

Thanks Mark. I guess the old timers figured that I would be pickier, with them over my shoulder, than the shop would be. My hourly rate, as a hobbiest is also considerably less. I actually found the work to be satisfying, if not filthy.

They did recommend that I have the stripping done by a shop. I was alarmed at the pits that showed up in that process.

Here's the collection that I was working on at the time. The parts that I did get plated looked good. The plating was thicker than I expecetd.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid29/p3a040bfe247ab8cd5ba890bd7f20eed7/fd61462e.jpg

[mark g]

Paul The parts look nicein the photo. I am not surprised you found alot of pits after stripping. This sometimes occurs because the stripping chemicals attact some of the filler metals used in the bronze casting formula. They can also occur from de-zincification over the years from exposure to acid rain, cleaning chemicals or definitely salt water exposure. Pits can be either polished out (hopefully not too deep) or can be silver soldered in for show chrome purposes as many high end wooden boat owners require.
Mark G