Golden plating

Tomek · 25th September 2003, 02:41 AM

Hi, I would like to use my own made berilium copper binding posts for GC amp. I would like to protect them from oxidation. I thought about using gold for this purpose. Now, I do not know where to start. Any suggestion?
Thanks

psychokids · 25th September 2003, 02:56 AM

Hello,

For starters, check out www.caswellplating.com . It is possible to gold plate directly over copper, but you could have problems with the gold wearing or chipping off. Putting on a nickel plate on first will make everything much happier, unless you think itll hurt your sound somehow. You can get full kits for plating from caswell, or you can just get the chemicals, a heater and some anodes if you dont mind finding something else to use for a tank and want to save some money. I would send them an email and ask what they suggest for your application, they have excellent customer service. Good luck.

-Chris

Tomek · 25th September 2003, 03:00 AM

Hello, thanks for the response. They have cool staff!!!
Thanks

roddyama · 25th September 2003, 03:37 AM

Cardas does rhodium over silver for its premium connectors. rhodium is just as inert as gold and harder so is more durable. It is also more expensive. It saves you from having to use the nickel under plate which is magnetic.

Here is a doc that explains the plating process.

fdegrove · 25th September 2003, 09:52 PM

Hi,

Quote:

Cardas does rhodium over silver for its premium connectors. rhodium is just as inert as gold and harder so is more durable. It is also more expensive. It saves you from having to use the nickel under plate which is magnetic.

From experience I'd hold the nickel plating (actually the fact that it's magnetic) responsible for the sonic degradation I observe on virtually all things gold-plated.

The rhodium stuff OTOH sounds fantastic but it does come cheap.

Cheers,

Tomek · 26th September 2003, 01:49 AM

Thanks Rodd!!!!! The manual is pretty straighforward. I would prefer Rhodium I just did not know it is not more difficult than gold plating.

25th September 2003, 02:41 AM	#1
Tomek diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA	Golden plating Hi, I would like to use my own made berilium copper binding posts for GC amp. I would like to protect them from oxidation. I thought about using gold for this purpose. Now, I do not know where to start. Any suggestion? Thanks

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25th September 2003, 02:56 AM	#2
psychokids diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Kent, WA	Hello, For starters, check out www.caswellplating.com . It is possible to gold plate directly over copper, but you could have problems with the gold wearing or chipping off. Putting on a nickel plate on first will make everything much happier, unless you think itll hurt your sound somehow. You can get full kits for plating from caswell, or you can just get the chemicals, a heater and some anodes if you dont mind finding something else to use for a tank and want to save some money. I would send them an email and ask what they suggest for your application, they have excellent customer service. Good luck. -Chris

25th September 2003, 03:00 AM	#3
Tomek diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA	Hello, thanks for the response. They have cool staff!!! Thanks

26th September 2003, 01:49 AM	#6
Tomek diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA	Thanks Rodd!!!!! The manual is pretty straighforward. I would prefer Rhodium I just did not know it is not more difficult than gold plating.