Can you gold plate a gun? Yes, it is possible to gold plate a gun. Gold plating guns allows you to add a beautiful, shiny gold finish to your firearm, making it unique and visually stunning. While gold plating was once only seen on custom or ceremonial presentation guns for dignitaries, it has become increasingly popular among regular gun owners who want to customize and enhance the look of their weapons.

In this comprehensive guide, we will cover everything you need to know about gold plating guns, including:

The benefits and drawbacks of gold plating firearms
What materials can be gold plated
How to prepare different metal surfaces for gold plating
Step-by-step instructions for gold plating using bath and brush methods
Tips for achieving an even, quality finish
How to care for and maintain a gold plated gun

Why Gold Plate Your Firearm?

There are several reasons why you may want to add a gold finish to your gun:

Aesthetic appeal – Gold has an undeniable beauty and luster that enhances the visual appeal of a gun. The luxurious finish makes the firearm stand out.
Customization – Gold plating allows you to put a unique, custom look on your gun to make it your own. It’s a great way to personalize your weapon.
Improved corrosion resistance – The gold layer acts as a protective barrier against corrosion and rust. This can extend the life of a gun.
Increased monetary value – Gold plated guns tend to increase in collector and resale value, especially rare or antique firearms. The gold finish makes it more valuable.
Sentimental reasons – You may want to gold plate a firearm passed down in your family or one with sentimental value to preserve its legacy. The gold preserves it beautifully.

While gold plating has many benefits, there are also a few downsides to consider:

Expense – Having your gun professionally gold plated can be quite costly. Even DIY plating has start-up equipment expenses. The gold plating chemicals themselves are expensive.
Softness of gold – Gold is a very soft metal. The finish is prone to scratching, flaking or wearing off, especially on guns that are handled and fired extensively.
Maintenance – Gold plated guns require special care and maintenance to keep the finish looking pristine. You can’t treat it like a regular gun.
Resale concerns – Some firearm collectors prefer original finishes to modifications like gold plating. This may limit resale value.

As long as you understand the pros and cons, gold plating can be a great way to enhance your firearm.

What Materials Can Be Gold Plated?

The material that your gun is made from is important when considering gold plating. Not all materials are suitable or will have the same results when gold plated. Here are the most common firearm materials and how they are treated for gold plating:

Steel

Most firearms are made of some type of steel, usually carbon or alloy steel. New steel guns will have a blued finish. This is a black oxide coating applied to the bare steel for protection and aesthetics.

The bluing must be completely removed before gold plating steel. This is done by dipping the steel in a hot caustic tank bath to strip the bluing. Alternatively, you can use chemical bluing removers, but these are harsh and must be handled carefully.

Once stripped to bare steel, the surface is prepared by polishing, sanding, or bead blasting. A nickel strike layer is often applied before the gold to help it bond smoothly and evenly to the steel.

Gold adheres well to steel, but extra care must be taken to prepare the surface thoroughly and use proper plating solutions.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel guns won’t have a bluing, but may have a brushed satin finish or a polished mirror-like finish. Any existing coating or treatment needs to be removed to expose the raw stainless steel before gold plating.

An electro-cleaning is performed, followed by a nickel strike layer (or nickel-free process) and then the gold plating applied. Like steel, stainless steel provides an excellent base for the gold layer with proper preparation.

Aluminum

Pure aluminum cannot be gold plated using standard plating solutions. It forms an oxide layer that prevents adhesion. Specialized zincate treatments allow a nickel layer to bond to aluminum, after which gold can be plated over the nickel.

This process requires a professional setup with baths and chemicals that most DIY platers won’t have access to. Once the nickel bonding layer is applied, the aluminum can then be gold plated successfully.

Zinc and Zinc Alloys

Die cast zinc alloys are commonly used in firearm slides and frames. The surface must be polished smooth and free of defects and coatings.

A copper layer followed by nickel is necessary to get the gold to adhere evenly. Cyanide copper solutions work well for plating onto zinc. Care must be taken when working with cyanide.

Plastics

Gold cannot be directly plated onto plastic or polymer gun parts, including frames, grips or stocks. The non-conductive surface prevents metal adhesion.

Plastics must first be made conductive by applying a specialized coating, electroless nickel finish, or other process. Even then, results are not always reliable for firearms parts.

If possible, it’s best to avoid plating plastic gun components. Metal platings usually don’t adhere well or last long on plastic.

How to Prepare Metal Surfaces for Gold Plating

Proper surface preparation is crucial for getting an evenly adhered gold layer that looks smooth and professional. Here are the key steps:

1. Remove existing coatings – Strip off any painted, blued, or plated finishes on the metal to expose the raw surface. As noted above, different metals have different coating removal methods.

2. Clean and degrease – Use a degreasing agent like alcohol or acetone with cotton swabs to remove all oils, grease, dirt, and residue from the metal. This helps the gold solution wet and spread evenly.

3. Smooth and polish – File or sand out any dents, dings, or tool marks. Use progressively finer grit sandpaper or polishing wheels to make the surface smooth.

4. Mask parts – Cover any areas you don’t want gold plated with plater’s tape, lacquer, or masking fluid. This keeps those areas clean for later finishing.

5. Activate surface – For steel, a chemical or electro-cleaner opens the pores of the metal. Other metals may require a nitric or hydrochloric acid dip. This improves adhesion.

6. Apply nickel layer – The nickel provides a foundation for the gold to bind to. Use a Wood’s Strike or electrolytic nickel plating bath.

Once prepped, the metal surface is ready for the gold plating process. Thorough preparation leads to better results.

Gold Plating Guns Step-By-Step

There are two main methods for applying the gold layer to firearms – bath plating and brush plating. Both involve using a solution of gold dissolved in cyanide, known as a gold cyanide electrolyte. Here is an overview of each process:

Bath Plating

Bath plating involves submerging the entire gun into a tank filled with the gold cyanide plating solution and using electrical current to deposit gold onto the part.

Advantages:

Even coverage – The gold layer is uniform across the entire surface.
Reaches cracks and crevices – Solution penetrates hard to reach spots.
Speed – Entire firearm is plated simultaneously for faster completion.
Thickness control – Current regulates the thickness of the gold layer deposited.

Disadvantages:

Size limitations – Guns must fit into plating tank; large or oddly shaped guns won’t work.
Selective plating – Only all or none of the gun can be plated, not specific parts.

Process:

Prepare plating tank – Fill with gold plating solution, made by dissolving gold salts in cyanide. Follow safety measures for using cyanide.
Prepare gun – Hang or suspend gun in tank, with plating points attached where current will enter and exit the part.
Switch on rectifier – Starts flow of electrical current through solution to the gun’s surface.
Monitor plating – With proper current, gold ions in solution are attracted and deposit onto the gun. Regulate current to control plating thickness.
Rinse and polish – When complete, rinse gun thoroughly in water and polish plated surface for luster.

Bath plating requires specialized equipment but produces very even, smooth gold coatings. It is ideal for firearms that fit conveniently in the tank size you have.

Brush Plating

Brush plating applies gold plating solution locally using a brush or swab rather than full immersion.

Advantages:

Selective – Only certain parts of a gun can be plated as desired.
Size – Not limited by tank constraints; any size gun can be plated.
Lower startup cost – No tank equipment needed; basic tools suffice.

Disadvantages:

Skill – Requires a steady hand and artistic skill to evenly apply gold solution.
Time consuming – Only small areas can be plated at once; full gun takes longer.
Thickness control – More difficult to regulate layer thickness manually.

Process:

Prepare gun and solution – Have gun securely mounted. Ready gold plating solution in a non-metal container. Use proper cyanide safety.
Connect power – Clip cathode (negative) wire to gun and attach anode (positive) wire to bristle brush head.
Wet surface – Use water or plating solution on cotton swab to wet area to be plated.
Apply current – Hold brush to wet area and turn on power rectifier to activate plating action. Slowly move brush to deposit gold.
Rinse and polish – When section is plated, rinse and polish. Repeat steps 3-5 for other areas as desired.

Brush plating allows selective gold coverage but requires skill and patience to master an even coating.

Tips for Achieving Quality Gold Plated Finishes

Here are some tips to help you successfully gold plate your firearm with a lustrous, professional looking finish:

Maintain proper current density and voltage – This regulates deposit thickness and adhesion. Too high causes burning and too low slows plating.
Use fresh plating solutions – Old, contaminated solutions give poor results. Make small batches to maintain freshness.
Keep solutions agitated – Stirring or air agitation makes sure gold ions are dispersed evenly in tank.
Clean anode regularly – Remove gold buildup on anode to maintain conductivity and current flow.
Rinse thoroughly after plating – Residual chemicals can cause discoloration or spotting on the finish.
Avoid overheating – High temperatures degrade the plating solution and can warp gun parts.
Plate in a dust-free area – Airborne contaminants can create defects in the plated surface.
Buff and polish after plating – This removes surface flaws and brings out the full shine and brilliance of the gold.
Plate evenly – Make multiple passes when brush plating to prevent thin patches or heavy nodules of gold.

Taking your time and following good plating practices will result in a stunning gold finish you’ll be proud to show off.

Caring for and Maintaining Gold Plated Guns

Gold plating requires some special care and maintenance to keep it looking pristine. Here are some tips:

Handle gently – Gold is a soft metal and the finish can scratch, scuff or flake off if mishandled, especially at edges and high wear areas.
Clean carefully – Use a soft cotton cloth with mild soap and water to clean. Avoid harsh chemicals or abrasive cloths.
Avoid solvents – Cleaners containing chlorinated solvents or ammonia can damage a gold finish.
Protect from tarnish – Store in a dry, cool place away from sulfur or other fumes that can tarnish gold. Consider a display case or gun sock.
Re-seal as needed – Over time, microscopic pores in the gold can open up, allowing tarnish underneath. Re-sealing helps protect the finish.
Avoid firing extensively – The hot gases and friction from firing can erode a soft gold finish prematurely. Consider gold plating mainly for display guns.
Re-plate worn areas – When thinning or wear eventually occurs, localized re-plating can restore the gold rather than re-doing the entire firearm.

With proper care and avoidance of damage, a gold plated gun can stay beautiful for many years and retain its value. Follow these tips to maintain the finish.

Is Gold Plating a Gun Right for You?

Gold plating can create a stunning, one-of-a-kind look for firearms, but it also requires commitment to proper plating techniques and ongoing care.

Here are some final factors to help you decide if you should gold plate your gun:

Budget – The costs may be too high if you’re on a tight budget. Consider less expensive customization options.
Skill level – Trying to gold plate without sufficient knowledge or skill with plating chemicals can risk damaging your gun.
Collectability concerns – Will gold plating hurt the future value if you ever want to resell? Original finishes may be preferred by collectors.
Special sentiment – Gold plating is a great way to preserve and beautify a family heirloom or firearm with nostalgic significance to you.
Amount of use – The soft gold won’t hold up to rugged use and frequent firing. Limit gold plating to display or lightly used guns.

If you take your time, do it properly, and maintain the gold plated gun carefully, the result can be stunning. With this helpful guide, you now have all the essential information needed to decide if a gold plated firearm is the right choice for you.

References

Humble, P. (2021). The Complete Guide to Gun Bluing. Gun Digest. https://gundigest.com/gun-reviews/the-complete-guide-to-gun-bluing/
Newhardt, D. (2011). The Basics of Firearm Plating. Shooting Illustrated. https://www.shootingillustrated.com/articles/2011/10/31/the-basics-of-firearm-plating/
Smith, W.H. (1993). The Plating of Gold. Gold Bulletin. 26(1). https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF03214724
Brown, G. (2022). How to Care for Gold Plated Guns. GunBacker. https://gunbacker.com/how-to-care-for-gold-plated-guns/
Editors of Condé Nast (2017). How to Gold-Plate a Gun. Wired. https://www.wired.com/2017/04/gold-plate-gun/