Gold plating

[mastermute]

I'm trying to make ends meet when it comes to cleaning gold plated DE's. I've looked around and there doesn't seem to be consensus on this issue.

To boil, or not to boil?
Chemicals?
How much "mechanical" cleaning?

I don't have an ultrasonic cleaner :(

I could really use some advice, I'd hate to ruin the gold plating.

[moviemaniac]

Boiling? Yeah
Ultrasonic? Yeah
Chemicals= Oh yeah, gold is resistant to all chemicals but one - I just don't know the English expression. But, believe me, it's not a household chemical ;)

[mastermute]

Thanks!

gold is resistant to all chemicals but one

I don't know if it constitutes a chemical, but "women" springs to mind ;)

[MCsommerreid]

Chemicals= Oh yeah, gold is resistant to all chemicals but one - I just don't know the English expression. But, believe me, it's not a household chemical ;)

But the lacquer on top of plating isn't very resistant to anything. Thats why gold plated razors give people such headaches; they don't want to trash whats left of the protective coating.

[mastermute]

But the lacquer on top of plating isn't very resistant to anything. Thats why gold plated razors give people such headaches; they don't want to trash whats left of the protective coating.

Ohh... Should they be "re-lacquered" after cleaning? If so, what kind of lacquer? CA?

[ZiggyDeath]

I'd be careful with an ultrasonic, I've had gold sparkles left sitting around in the basin after cleaning some.

[mastermute]

Hmmm.. I sort of knew this would happen ;)

Any more do and don'ts?

I realy don't want gold sparlking anything...

[TOB9595]

Over on SRP a fella posted a technique that I will use.
Soak the blade overnight, or longer, in sewing machine oil. The Sewing machine oil is very non aggressive.
THen use qtip or cotton ball to gently remove the top, surface crud that we see. The cruddy look to the gold is on top of the gold not in it.

Makes sense to me.

Tom

[mastermute]

Makes sense to me.

Actually, it makes perfect sense. I saw a show on Discovery a few years ago ("A 4x4 is born") where they soaked an engine block in diesel to de-grease it, so the mineral oil thing probably has something to it.

[mastermute]

Recived a Toggle I landed a while ago (was starting to worry abit :() and well.. "very good condition" is a hugely relative term. This is so grimey I don't even want to open it again... :( A major cleaning job! From what I could determine the plating was quite good, except for the "toggle area"... Will post a pic when I have mustered enough energy to face the reality of descriptions on ebay :(

[Bronco]

Recived a Toggle I landed a while ago (was starting to worry abit :() and well.. "very good condition" is a hugely relative term. This is so grimey I don't even want to open it again... :( A major cleaning job! From what I could determine the plating was quite good, except for the "toggle area"... Will post a pic when I have mustered enough energy to face the reality of descriptions on ebay :(

I hear ya! Sometimes I think they are blind or "Beauty is in the eye of the "beer" holder. :D
Kinda like this razor with a couple of minor chips?
1142
Good luck with the toggle, can't wait to see the pictures!

[Kenrup]

I hear ya! Sometimes I think they are blind or "Beauty is in the eye of the "beer" holder. :D
Kinda like this razor with a couple of minor chips?
1142
Good luck with the toggle, can't wait to see the pictures!

So thats where that one went! What a gem! Just needs some TLC.:rofl

[MCsommerreid]

I hear ya! Sometimes I think they are blind or "Beauty is in the eye of the "beer" holder. :D
Kinda like this razor with a couple of minor chips?
1142
Good luck with the toggle, can't wait to see the pictures!

Obviously that pointy bit is for shaving nose and ear hair.

[moviemaniac]

Obviously that pointy bit is for shaving nose and ear hair.
:rofl :rofl :rofl

always try to see the positive side of life, eh? :D