U.S. re-plating options

Darkbulb

Darkbulb

Member #10
Was thinking maybe you international lot would have an answer.

I've been a bit out of the loop in terms of what people are using for re-plating services here in the US these days - or is there someone in the UK where it would make financial sense to send it over to?

I'd like to get this guy re-plated when I get it this week;



So, I asked RazorEmporium how much it would cost to bring it back to something like this;


...and the quote I received was;

Thank you for your e-mail, your Goodwill can be brought back to its original glory with our Revamp service. You have two difference options, one is Mirror Finish, this is the shiniest and will make the razor stunning, surpassing its original finish. The second is Factory Finsih, Gillette did not mirror finish the brass before plating, this finish is true to that with a shiny surface but not mirror shine.

24K Gold Mirror Finish is $169 / £130
24K Factory Finish is $129 / £99"

Now, it's not that I don't think they would do a smashing job...it's just that $130-170 dollars for a re-plate is a bit outside of what I was looking to spend on it. Maybe I'm being completely un-realistic when I, in my head, had pictured it to be about $70/£50 or so?

Anywho, if anyone knows who is doing good re-plating right now in the U.S. at a potentially lower cost do let me know...
 
Looney12345

Looney12345

Forum GOD!
Darkbulb said:
Was thinking maybe you international lot would have an answer.

I've been a bit out of the loop in terms of what people are using for re-plating services here in the US these days - or is there someone in the UK where it would make financial sense to send it over to?

I'd like to get this guy re-plated when I get it this week;



So, I asked RazorEmporium how much it would cost to bring it back to something like this;


...and the quote I received was;

Thank you for your e-mail, your Goodwill can be brought back to its original glory with our Revamp service. You have two difference options, one is Mirror Finish, this is the shiniest and will make the razor stunning, surpassing its original finish. The second is Factory Finsih, Gillette did not mirror finish the brass before plating, this finish is true to that with a shiny surface but not mirror shine.

24K Gold Mirror Finish is $169 / £130
24K Factory Finish is $129 / £99"

Now, it's not that I don't think they would do a smashing job...it's just that $130-170 dollars for a re-plate is a bit outside of what I was looking to spend on it. Maybe I'm being completely un-realistic when I, in my head, had pictured it to be about $70/£50 or so?

Anywho, if anyone knows who is doing good re-plating right now in the U.S. at a potentially lower cost do let me know...
Click to expand...
I believe delta echo razors would be cheaper than that... Their quality of work is meant to be very good and based out of the US... Expensive for us guys over the pond http://www.deltaechorazors.com
 
Looney12345

Looney12345

Forum GOD!
Darkbulb said:
Ah, thanks. I didn't even think of them as I don't think I've ever seen them doing gold plating but that's a great idea, Thanks!
Click to expand...
No probs, expanded on my post a little with an edit, but you were too quick lol. I'm sure they'd be game for the challenge, but can't say for sure... I'd be interested in if there are guys in the UK doing the kind of work they are!
 
Darkbulb

Darkbulb

Member #10
Looney12345 said:
No probs, expanded on my post a little with an edit, but you were too quick lol. I'm sure they'd be game for the challenge, but can't say for sure... I'd be interested in if there are guys in the UK doing the kind of work they are!
Click to expand...
And if memory serves me right there is now also a direct competitor to Delta Echo located in, I want to say, Hawaii?
Lower prices, I think, but not as established. Now if I only could remember their name.

I also stumbled upon this guy...
http://www.razorplate.com/p/prices.html

buuuut, of course, two weeks ago he posted:
"
UPDATE: 9/12/16

To Customers and Potential Customers,
Due to unprecedented demand and the volume of jobs already in-queue, I am now booked beyond capacity.
I must place a TEMPORARY stop to any new, incoming jobs - until I can clear the backlog situation."
 
UKRob

UKRob

Forum GOD!
There was a guy on TSR who was into plating - including gold I believe - at reasonable prices. Unfortunately as I haven't been on there lately I can't recall his name. However, if you search the restoration pages I'm sure you'll see him - based in the UK by the way, but you should be able to avoid import taxes by declaring it as a repair.
 
Darkbulb

Darkbulb

Member #10
UKRob said:
There was a guy on TSR who was into plating - including gold I believe - at reasonable prices. Unfortunately as I haven't been on there lately I can't recall his name. However, if you search the restoration pages I'm sure you'll see him - based in the UK by the way, but you should be able to avoid import taxes by declaring it as a repair.
Click to expand...
Thanks. Also learned that HIBCO over here might be an option. They do gold plating for $75. Not too bad...in comparison to RazorEmporium
 
Darkbulb

Darkbulb

Member #10
Received email replies from both Chris at Razorplate as well as HIBCO:

From Chris in regards to the photo of the Goodwill that I sent in:
"The appearance of plating is predicated by the appearance of the surface upon which the plating is deposited.
A matte or satin-finished metal surface will yield a matte plating appearance. For plating to be mirror-like, the surface has to be polished to a mirror-like appearance.

So....either finish is possible, but the shiny gold would be much preferred, because;
1) The brass would be prepped and polished,
2) a nickel foundation is plated over the brass and
3) the gold is plated over the nickel foundation.

Gillette utilized gold over nickel on the more expensive razors (Aristocrats, Executives and such). The nickel provides better corrosion protection for the brass. It also blocks "copper staining" from leaching-up from the brass into the gold (it takes a long time to occur - but brass is an alloy of copper and zinc).

On the Goodwill, Gillette plated a very thin layer of gold directly over the brass - then applied lacquer to protect the thin and basic gold plating. From what I can tell from your photo 01, you are seeing brass. I do not detect any gold plating that is present! If that brass were polished, you could make it quite shiny.

If gold were plated directly on the brass - without polishing and prepping the brass - you would have a matte, gold-plated razor.

Most want their razors to be shiny and reflective. In that case, the brass would be highly polished to a mirror-like finish - a foundation of bright nickel would be plated over it - then, 24K gold would be plated over the nickel plating.

I only plate in 24K gold. I do not even stock 18K or 14K gold. Gillette utilized 22K to 24K gold for their plating. In order to match the Gillette "factory color", 24K is used. 24K gold is 99.99 % pure gold.

A complete razor replate in 24K gold is $85. Return shipping is at actual cost of $6.80 for USPS Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Box service."

Email from Scott at HIBCO:
"I’m not sure what you mean by “standard” vs “mirror” re-plating. I’ll go out on a limb and assume the standard plating is when no prep is done to the item prior to plating giving it a shabby look and mirror plating is when the item is properly stripped and polished prior to plating. If I am correct with my assumption I will tell you we only plate after the item has been properly stripped and polished. Standard, or matte plating is used on low-grade parts, like nuts and bolts. It should never be used on collectible items like a vintage razor. I know there are shops offering these services but it only to cut corners or supplement for a lack of experience to produce high quality finishes. If you send us your razor it will be properly stripped of any original plating. Then it will be polished to a mirror finish before receiving new plating. Your razor will look like a high quality piece of jewelry. That said, sometimes there are nicks and age marks too deep to be removed. We will remove all superficial nicks and scratches but we will leave any marks that would require sacrificing original detail. In the end you will have yourself a showpiece."

Both most excellent and well thought out replies but I think I've made up my mind (unless sportshaving enters the race).
 
Darkbulb

Darkbulb

Member #10
So, I decided on Chris at Razorplate.
Got another great email from him and this man really, really seems to both know what he's talking about - and is passionate about it.

Email from Chris:
"If you look carefully at the surface of the top cap of a Goodwill, you will notice that the brass is not "super-polished". This is to maintain the correct depth of the stamped details that are in the brass. Heavy polishing removes metal. Too much polishing would diminish the "crispness" of the artistic design. We will only want to polish and prep the brass surface just enough to get you a nice, shiny top cap.

Additionally, the detailed design on the top of a Goodwill causes the cap to reflect light differently than if it were a totally-smooth contoured surface. When I am finished with it, however, your replate will be very shiny and reflective (like a gold mirror). It will look MUCH better than the razor in your photo 02!

The attached photos are not a Goodwill, but are several pics of a Tech that I replated in 24K gold - over a bright nickel foundation - and an Aristocrat that was plated in the same manner. I think you will agree that these razors are "shiny"!

I am always happy to answer your questions and explain things to you. I tend to think of RazorPlate as a concierge-level plating business - where each customer is attentively served! I spend a lot of time interacting with my customers. I believe that well-informed customers are typically, happy customers!"

I am now slated for a Mid-November re-plate. Can't wait to see how it will come out!!

Below are some of the examples of Chris' work with Gold plating:



 
Last edited:
Looney12345

Looney12345

Forum GOD!
Darkbulb said:
So, I decided on Chris at Razorplate.
Got another great email from him and this man really, really seems to both know what he's talking about - and is passionate about it.

Email from Chris:
"If you look carefully at the surface of the top cap of a Goodwill, you will notice that the brass is not "super-polished". This is to maintain the correct depth of the stamped details that are in the brass. Heavy polishing removes metal. Too much polishing would diminish the "crispness" of the artistic design. We will only want to polish and prep the brass surface just enough to get you a nice, shiny top cap.

Additionally, the detailed design on the top of a Goodwill causes the cap to reflect light differently than if it were a totally-smooth contoured surface. When I am finished with it, however, your replate will be very shiny and reflective (like a gold mirror). It will look MUCH better than the razor in your photo 02!

The attached photos are not a Goodwill, but are several pics of a Tech that I replated in 24K gold - over a bright nickel foundation - and an Aristocrat that was plated in the same manner. I think you will agree that these razors are "shiny"!

I am always happy to answer your questions and explain things to you. I tend to think of RazorPlate as a concierge-level plating business - where each customer is attentively served! I spend a lot of time interacting with my customers. I believe that well-informed customers are typically, happy customers!"

I am now slated for a Mid-November re-plate. Can't wait to see how it will come out!!

Below are some of the examples of Chris' work with Gold plating:



Click to expand...
Beautful, looks like you've made the right choice and Chris is clearly exceptionally passionate and skilled to boot!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top