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  for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Garage Plating

I was just reading how to get started in plating and you basically say "NO" unless you have a shop. I know a few people that gold brush plate out of there garages, they have never had a problem and say it is no big deal. Is gold plating really that bad? I am asking this because I bought a portable gold plating machine last year and I was trying to sell it because I didn't want to mess around with the chemicals, I now need money to pay off the loan for the plater and I am really considering using it. What is your opinion? What about all of those non-cyanide / non-arsenic golds. Thanks for any response you may give; by the way, your website is very informative.

Barrett Russell
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
1998

Hello Barrett. You've asked me for my opinion after you have already quoted it! That is usually a sign that you are trying to talk yourself or me into something because you didn't like my answer :-)

We have advertisers here who offer portable gold plating machines, and who apparently share the opinion that plating in a garage is no big deal. We also have some 'regulars' here who have shared my opinion that plating by amateurs is a no-no.

There really isn't much more I can say, except that plating in a garage certainly will not inevitably lead to problems, but the likelihood is greater than I am comfortable with. Good luck.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
1998