HELP! Gold electrolycis??

[metaladdict]

I was wondering if it is worth bothering with this...I have found gold plated jewelry before and does anyone know if it can be electrically removed to an anode or cathode???

[DIGGER27]

Good question.

My instincts say you would probably destroy the object, or turn it some weird color or something, but what do I know?

A real answer will pop up here soon, I am sure.

[Lightningjack]

I tried electrolysis on a few gold plated rings with not much results... Best thing I've found to use on those is a dremel & a soft buffing wheel, it still didn't look that great after I finished, but it did get rid of the rust stuff & looked shiny...

[Silversmith45]

With the right equipment, the old plating can be removed and it can be replated again.

[KingTotsalot]

KT is wondering if you are wanting to remove the old plating to try and salvage the gold, or to clean the ring up for replating?? There is not enough gold on a plated item, even at today's prices to bother to salvage it unless you can get many many MANY gold plated items! Just like computer mother boards...what looks like a lot is not much considering one individual board. Now if ya had a couple thousand boards!!!!!! That's a different situation.