Thread: Gold 'wash"

How do the traditional razor makers do the gold logos on their blades? I have seen video of makers doing the acid etched logo the old fashioned way, but never the gold "wash."

Interesting indeed: when restoring a razor with a gold wash, it would be much easier to disregard it completely, and just to reapply the gold wash again at the end of restoration. The amount of gold there is negligible price-wise, so if we knew were to get a gold leaf and how to apply it - it would greatly simplify working on such razors. Caring about etching underneath it is a bit less demanding.

They most certenly used some sort of electrolise process.

Now days there are afordable options for home use ...like this one for instance:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9A6l7C4js8

They are called Gold plating machines or Gold plating kits and use a solution of coloidal gold and some electrodes that run electricity trough the item you need to plate.

There are lots of brands of kits i was also looking into them.

I don't know everything exactly but it is something about having gold in water then adding some electric current and it makes the gold stick to the metal. The way they have it as a design I believe they would cover the razor they didn't want to have gold etching with something to stop the gold from sticking to that metal.

Originally Posted by ovidiucotiga

They most certenly used some sort of electrolise process.

Now days there are afordable options for home use ...like this one for instance:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9A6l7C4js8

They are called Gold plating machines or Gold plating kits and use a solution of coloidal gold and some electrodes that run electricity trough the item you need to plate.

There are lots of brands of kits i was also looking into them.

Fascinating, but $800 - ouch... Although it includes enough gold to plate completely every razor I'll probably ever have

There is a "How it's made" video on the Dovo razor factory and in this video it shows quickly the gold wash process. Electricity is used as well as another part that is painted on where the gold will not adhere. Check YouTube you should find it.

The trick is likely what kind of masking or "resist" you use so that the gold won't leach underneath where you have masked off. I'm looking to gold electroplate my "shield" logo on damascus blades, so the blade has to be etched two different times. Right now, i just leave the logo shiny by masking it with nail polish for the ferric chloride etch of the blade, but that is not a perfect solution.

Originally Posted by ejmolitor37

There is a "How it's made" video on the Dovo razor factory and in this video it shows quickly the gold wash process. Electricity is used as well as another part that is painted on where the gold will not adhere. Check YouTube you should find it.

I saw that short video. Now I have to figure out what kind of lacquer they use as the resist and how they apply it so precisely.

I wish I spoke German I believe they say what it is.