Gold plated screws

D

Diggerdog

Joined
Aug 30, 2005
Messages
173
I was just about to purchase some gold plated screws and I ended up looking at plating kits from Caswell. Does anyone plate their own screws or do you always buy screws already plated. I just wondered how well these kits work to plate your own items. Thanks guys.
 
It is not quite as simple to plate screws as it would seem.You will have to get the screw smooth,completely clean,and plate one at a time.Even then the plating will rub off easily. Commercially plated items are striped in a etchant,tumbles,cleaned surgically clean,plated with nickle,and then gold plated. That makes them tough enough to hold up. I plate jewelry every day.I once plated my entire 1905 Colt pistol in 18K gold.But I wouldn't plate a dozen screws for $100.Buy them,it is far cheaper.
Stacy
 
Titanium Nitride coated screws have a gold plated look, and will hold up to handling better than gold, unless you need gold...
Where to find them is the question...
 
You'll have to go back to the 70's and "The Man with the Golden Gun".
Actually.I used to do a lot of gun embellishment for the local gun shop,custom grip inlays,gold triggers and hammers,etc.In a conversation with the owner the subject came up of how a gold plated gun would look.I took the old gun (it had a bit of age wear) polished it out,and plated it. I wore it in a metallic gold finished shoulder holster for years,before I quit carrying.Every jeweler in town knew what was under my suit coat.
BTW it was a 1903 Pocket Colt,32cal.
 
Plating old guns always seemed to me like dressing a fine old lady up like a skanky teenager. The Pocket is small, so it's not so bad. I was imagining a full-size pistol in gold, maybe some pimpish fake pearl grips ... abomination!
Naturally, you're right about the screws. I've never been a fan of aesthetic platings on steel anyway. It doesn't seem to look good for too long. I have had guitars with expensive, gold-plated tuning gear and I can tell you that stuff doesn't hold up too well. It fades with use or worse--gets cancerous-looking pits.
If it has to look gold, I'd check into TiNi as mentioned above. If you find the right vendor, you can get it done pretty cheap on small-surface-area parts like that.
 
If you are plating over 300 series stainless screw it is actually pretty easy....

I plate my own screws both using gold and Black Chrome and I find the gold to be way more durable than the chrome... 300 series stainless has so much nickle in its make up that a nickle "pre plate" is not nescessarily needed... The 300 series just needs to be CLEAN and of a high polish.

I like to plate my own simply for the reason that I can filework them or turn them down in diameter or even vary the finish (blast, buff, ect.) to get the look I am going for...

I will try to find the links to the solutions I use to plate directly over 300 series if anyone is interested...

I have plated entire dive knives with 24K before to halt corrosion holds up to all but abrasives IMO..

But for a screw that is going to sit down in a counterbored hole most of the time anyways I think it is a very durable solution.

Alan Folts

alanfolts@hotmail.com
 
Hi Guys,
If you all want some gold screws let me know.
We "knifekits.com"will be carrying them in stock soon.
We bought a 7 axis cnc lathe to run these and other cool knife parts.
 
Hi Darrel. I do buy lot's of my supplies from you and have always got great products. Glad to know you're going to be carrying gold screws. I would also like to see more variety in Phosfor bronze washers in thickness and outside diameter for 1/8 and 3/16. Best regards guys. Dave
 
Hi Dave
Please give me ....od x id x thickness. This way I can understand what you are wanting.

We are adding new thumbers..pivots..all kinds of supplies.. everyday.

Thanks for the good words.
 
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