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Metal plating


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I am looking for the name of the plating system used similar to chrome plating but Gold.. Not real gold. I want to (fake) gold plate some Case parts. Ive searched for a few days but can not find any reference to the name of the process.. I remember someone telling me they had it done to their motorcycle rims (not aluminum anodizing) .

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Metal leaf maybe? It doesn't seem like someone would use metal leaf on motorcycle rims, but it may be possible on a computer case. There are multiple types of imitation leaf that look very much like gold at a lower cost.

 

I don't know much on the subject, I'm just suggesting it.

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Electroplating is the name of it... but it's pretty finicky than just simply painting it. I do the reverse quite a bit to take rust off parts to coat a throw away electrode.

 

But you'll need an electrolyte. Sodium carbonate seems to be the most popular for cheap home use (AKA PH up). Table salt tends to be hazardous with many materials due to it's chlorine content (iron electrodes in salt solutions make some sort of chlorine gas... bad). A power supply is also necessary and the voltage seems to vary. 12 seems to be the lowest but a higher voltage beats resistance and coats the object quicker... The cathode will be the object and the anode is your supply. The anode submerged will be the substance that will coat the object... be careful, soft metals disappear quite fast.

 

But that's the gist of it. I'm not sure how gold (or fake metals) reacts in this situation... some research is required.

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Yeah I think a can of gold spray paint is looking better and better. For the pieces I wanted done (real gold *hard* plating) would have been 4-600$ just not worth it..

If im going to spend that kinda money I would just say funk it and get a Lian Li or a case with TEC.

I will get it all painted and put together and then 1 or 2 weeks later I will find what I was looking for..

For 2 Months I have had the case chassis primed and ready. I am in no hurry. But it would be nice have it done.

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