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Need a gold plating bath

I AM A JAPANESE SWORD POLISHER AND AM IN NEED OF " THE GOLD SOLUTION, GOLD PLATING BATH" BY THE SHEFFIELD PLATE POLISH COMPANY. IT WILL RE-SURFACE GOLD SWORD FITTINGS. I HAVE AN OLD ONE, ALMOST OUT OF SOLUTION. THE KIT CONTAINS A 24K GOLD SOLUTION, A 5.1FL.OZ. THAT ADHERES TO THE FITTING.
CAN YOU HELP ME?

WAYNE SUNDAY
JAPANESE SWORD RESTORATION - EVANS CITY, Pennsylvania, USA
January 21, 2008

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January 22, 2008

Immersion gold plating solutions for consumers have been available not only from Sheffield Plate but from Medallion Products as well . . . when you can find them. Unfortunately, these types of companies seem to change their marketing outlets and methods every few months.

However, if you consider yourself a craftsman in this field, rather than a one-shot hobbyist, Wayne, know that immersion gold plating solutions are widely available from plating process suppliers. ENIG (electroless nickel plating followed by immersion gold plating) is a widely practiced industrial process. So you may want to ask some of the suppliers in our Chemicals Directory about their immersion gold offerings. Good luck.

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

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January 23, 2008

The fittings of Japanese swords, the guard (tsuba) Pommel cap (fuchi- kashira) and ornaments (menuki) are traditionally decorated by inlay (hon-zogan) or overlay (nunome) of pure gold. If your fittings are indeed old, modern plating will reduce their value to practically zero.
I suggest that if you want pretty fittings, you sell yours to a collector and buy one of the many modern replicas advertised on the internet.

Geoff Smith
Hampshire, England