Thread: DE's - Gold/Silver gilding

Guys-
I scored (in my estimation) pretty darn well today. I found two Gillette safety razors, his original little model (with the unfortunately characteristic crack in the handle) and then the 1930's rerelease as the "new safety razor".

The first has seen enough use to wear the silver off the head and expose the brass underneath, and has about a 3/8ths crack in the handle. The seals in that are pretty loose too, so I know I'm going to take the handle apart, put in new cloth gaskets, and epoxy it all together. I think with a good circular clamp I can repair the crack....

The "new" has lost most of the gold wash, with just the faintest hints remaining where it isn't handled much. I figure my options are to either leave it as is - it has a very even patina - or totally polish it down, strip it with acid, and then re-wash the gold. My question is if it's worth that work, or if it is still valuable to use/sell as is. It's in beautiful shape with no scratches or dings, it's just missing the gold wash.

IF the GW would be worth it, how would I best go about that? I know a little about things like gold chloride and electroplating, etc, or some of the reagents that might be used to chemically goldwash the metals....but nothing about the actual practical acquisition of these substances, preparing and washing a whole razor, or what technique would be best.


I'm not kidding, though....with GW this thing would be freakin' minty.


Advice?

As with most projects/hobbies it probably would cost less to send it somewhere to have it plated as apposed to buying everything needed to plate only one item. Plating involves acids and currents. There are posts here on SRP about plating gold on straights. If you decide on learning the process and doing your own I am sure you would find a lot of DE users asking to have their's done also.
Plating isn't difficult if you have the right equipment and prep the metal properly. As with most endeavors, there are tricks to the trade. I've not done any plating but there was a lot of plating done in places I worked. Safety is a major concern as well as disposal of spent chemicals. Good luck. I will be interested in reading your follow up this this thread.

There are kits available for home use. I have seen this one being used, Plating Kits Chrome Plating Kits Aluminum Anodizing Kits Electroplating Kits - Caswell Inc., and can vouch for the results.

It is a painstaking, and can be expensive, process but it can be done.

Originally Posted by BKratchmer

Guys-
I scored (in my estimation) pretty darn well today. I found two Gillette safety razors, his original little model (with the unfortunately characteristic crack in the handle) and then the 1930's rerelease as the "new safety razor".

The first has seen enough use to wear the silver off the head and expose the brass underneath, and has about a 3/8ths crack in the handle. The seals in that are pretty loose too, so I know I'm going to take the handle apart, put in new cloth gaskets, and epoxy it all together. I think with a good circular clamp I can repair the crack....

The "new" has lost most of the gold wash, with just the faintest hints remaining where it isn't handled much. I figure my options are to either leave it as is - it has a very even patina - or totally polish it down, strip it with acid, and then re-wash the gold. My question is if it's worth that work, or if it is still valuable to use/sell as is. It's in beautiful shape with no scratches or dings, it's just missing the gold wash.

IF the GW would be worth it, how would I best go about that? I know a little about things like gold chloride and electroplating, etc, or some of the reagents that might be used to chemically goldwash the metals....but nothing about the actual practical acquisition of these substances, preparing and washing a whole razor, or what technique would be best.


I'm not kidding, though....with GW this thing would be freakin' minty.


Advice?

Over at Badger and Blade, there is a member who is a jeweler and who is offering replating services for DEs. PM me and I can give you the coordinates.

s.

Whoo! I'd love to try it, but it is awfully expensive.... then again, the economy needs stimulating...and the current administration has taught me that the secret to getting out of debt is spending more money...

Yes there are kits out there however the result may look good but it won't be durable. The best bet is to have it professionally done where the metal will have the proper prep and have a nice thick coat of gold deposited which will wear well or as well as gold plate can wear.

Originally Posted by BKratchmer

then again, the economy needs stimulating...and the current administration has taught me that the secret to getting out of debt is spending more money...

Let's hope they're right.....