[Jewelry making - Article 00158] - Re: [Orchid] Coloring 18k yellow gold

[David L. Huffman]

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>         . . . I don't understand is the necessity for some of the steps
>     listed by David Huffman for depletion-gilding 18K yellow . . 

Hi Beth;

    My method is just my personal solution which I worked out while
    removing soft solder from gold coins.  I was experimenting with
    several variations and noticed some changed the color of the coins. 
    I like muriatic simply because I can get it at the local hardware
    store and avoid hazardous shipping charges, etc.  It's just
    hydrochloric acid.  I may be imagining it, and a chemist could tell
    you, but it seemed to remove the copper better than Sparex or other
    sodium bisulfate products.  I let the article cool before quenching
    for two reasons.  One: I'm less likely to get spattered with hot
    acid.  Two: it seems when I dump a hot article in the acid, it works
    on some areas better than others, and it also seems that the steam
    blows off some of the remaining layer of gold, making it take longer
    to build up.  I sometimes will actually burnish the article after
    rinsing with a polished carbide burnisher instead of a brass brush. 
    I think I get a more even surface effect by immersing a cool article
    in the acid, and besides, dipping a hot article in acid eventually
    heats the acid up and hot acid makes me more nervous still.  Finally,
    the ultrasonic, I find, helps lift off the black smut of oxide, or
    makes the acid penetrate the article better.  I wouldn't claim that
    my technique is necessarily an improvement over the typical depletion
    method but it seems to work nicely on the small articles I work on,
    especially the intricate filigree work. 

David L. Huffman



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