Any tips for ageing gold hardware?

Reinhard

Hi Guys
I need to age a gold tailpiece to fit on a 60's ES-345. Any tips or tricks you know of? Same teachniques as ageing nickel?

vic

I'd be very careful with this. Goldplating tarnishes normally within a year or two. However you could put the tailpiece in wine vinegar for about 2 hours, rinse with water and check if it has dulled a bit. If not, leave it in for 6 hours or so and check the result. Otherwise just put it on as is...it will dull naturally within the next two years.

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AlanRatcliffe

Reinhard wrote Hi Guys
I need to age a gold tailpiece to fit on a 60's ES-345. Any tips or tricks you know of? Same teachniques as ageing nickel?

Do you use hydrochloric acid for nickel? If so, then yes. You have to scuff some of the gold off first (tumbling is best, but you can also use steel wool or water paper), as gold is inert and immune to acids. Then do the bucket with a bowl of acid thing...

Gearhead

Gold is not entirely immune to acids: it dissolves in Aqua Regia ?
But anyway, I would just put it on and wait a year. What if your ageing treatment does not turn out looking the same as the other stuff?