LA RUCHE DAVIS
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The Lazy Metalsmith Blog

10/20/2013

5 Comments

 

Pen Plating on Fine Silver

I made a video tutorial! The first and I hope not the last:))))))

I've also started a blog, so that when I get new videos put up I can let people know. I'm always bursting with information and I want to start sharing all the techniques I've gleaned over a lifetime.  I also like to keep things short and to the point so I'm aiming at 10-min videos with a PDF file for each one with all the supply lists.

This has definitely been a learning experience for me and my ever-patient hubby Howie. Cellini...not so much.

This  video addresses one of the most frequently asked questions from people who come to class here...how to goldplate your fine silver.  It's easy, and I've even made a PDF file for supplies. It's short and to the point. After all, time is money. If you want to stand out from the crowd, add a little bling to your work. After all who doesn't like painting with gold??

And yes, it's real gold. Is it thick? No, but it can be. Think about a lot of the mass-produced hollow gold earrings: most of them are plated into a matrix mold.  Also think Vermeil.  And what do you think protects the astronauts from the glare of the sun on their face shields??? Yep, gold plating. It's a wonderful thing. There are also some great works of enamel art that were made in fine silver because of the size - think a bowl, then gold plated.  This technique is wonderful for bezels!

And my advice for marketing your pieces is be totally upfront about what's on there. You can call it a gold accent, or gold kissed, but be ready to say, "yes I 24k gold plated it with my own little hands." 

Comments welcomed:))-ann

pen_plating_equipment_and_materials.pdf
File Size: 155 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

5 Comments
Ruth Caldwell
10/24/2013 05:24:20 am

Awesome video! I had no idea pen plating could be so easy :)

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George Cohan
10/28/2013 02:59:40 pm

Neither did I, but it was a snap! Thanks so much Ann :)

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Sherry Chaples link
10/24/2013 01:40:33 pm

This is wonderful! I was lucky enough that you demonstrated pen plating to me several years ago. Loved it since. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I look forward to future videos and tips.

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Roxan Waluk
10/27/2013 03:20:14 am

Thanks Ann! This was extremely helpful. I do have one question - I got carried away while pen plating and then decided didn't like how one of the pieces turned out. What's the best way to take the plating off?

Reply
Ann
10/28/2013 02:33:47 pm

Hi Roxan,
That's a good question:)) Depending on how thick you have it, you can rub it off with a rubber eraser or just polish it off. The other neat thing you can do because you have a rectifier, is to just switch the leads, and the pen takes stuff off rather than putting it on, so you can un-plate it, it also super cleans. The felt tip becomes dirty and unusable for plating, especially if you are taking off a whole lot but those things are cheap anyway:)

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    I say I'm lazy because I love, love, love to work and be caught up in the creative moment... period!! If I'm in the zone, I don't want to be distracted, get up, don't want to answer the phone, and will do anything that's within easy reach  to accomplish my piece, and yes, that sometimes means licking the paintbrush... Other lazy metalsmiths out there... you know who you are!!

    That same laziness often leads to unconventional approaches to my work. I love tools, love anything powered, anything that can make my work faster and smarter (which means no getting up, cause I'm lazy). There's just so much work waiting to be done!! But I'm lucky to have Cellini, head studio dog, to do all the grunt work.



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