My thoughts on plated jewelry

[MRBeyer]

I know I am new but.... I see everyone beelines for the good stuff. As we all have experienced, you are still going to get plated stuff of worn quality for one reason or another. How about replating it and selling it at a flea or farmers market once or twice a year. Could help pay for the rest of your purchases. Its what I am thinking of doing when I have stuff I don't think I can sell on Ebay. Plating is relatively easy with DIY methods all over the internet.

So, what are your thoughts.

 

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[Cappy Z.]

I have purchased plated spoons and forks with stunningly beautiful stems. I cut a few off and had intended on making a ring or pendant. The core metal however is unbelievably strong and difficult to bend. I haven't completed my research, but some day I'll get to it.

Thanks for posting.

 

[day_sleeper_99]

Ahhh, the Capitalist mind at work!!! go for it!

 

[cyberdan]

A) I see everyone beelines for the good stuff

B) you are still going to get plated stuff of worn quality

C) How about re-plating it and selling it...once or twice a year.

D) Plating is relatively easy with DIY methods all over the internet.

A) absolutely, but I don't beeline. Don't want the seller to notice it and raise the $$$$

B) It is easy to spot with a magnifying glass. The only plated utensils I buy is on eBay. The seller calls it sterling or silver through ignorance. But in every case they have issued a refund when I pointed out it is worthless.

C) a lot of work and without the right equipment just won't look good.

D) don't believe everything you read on the internet. a lot of work, it is dirty, lots of chemicals. go visit a chrome plating company and see what they have to do to get quality.

 

[silvercop]

i try and buy in lots. get the good stuff out and all the junk i am saving up so i can get one of those cash for gold envelopes and send it off to them.

 

[Marty-Graw]

try midwest refineries...cash for gold will cheat you

 

[silvercop]

i was only going to send the junk off to cash for gold. just wondering what they would have to say

 

[cyberdan]

i was only going to send the junk off to cash for gold. just wondering what they would have to say

I think we should all send our junk to cash for gold
I bet a coordinated effort from everyone would send them some kind of message.

If I thought I could get away with paying so little I might do it, but I also know I would have a guilty consience. I know I pay better than 5 local businesses because I checked them out.

 

[Cappy Z.]

Here is a spoon stem that I snipped off. I have studied the design closely and personally find it very marketable. Point being, how does one correctly mold such a stiff piece into a ring?

 

[cyberdan]

Here is a spoon stem that I snipped off. I have studied the design closely and personally find it very marketable. Point being, how does one correctly mold such a stiff piece into a ring?

molding is something completly different. I used to buy sterling spoons many years ago and do that. For girls the spoons needed to be dainty. Silver bends easily if softened by a torch (don't burn down your house) other metals like in silver plated will not work as well.

to do base metal ones do not snipoff the bowl end. you will need a heavy vice, a ring mandrel and some hammers (I think I used a chasing hammer) put the bowl end of the spoon in a vice, pound on spoon handle and wrap around the mandrel till you get the size you want. cut off the unwanted end. clean up and polish. That is a very, very basic metal working lesson. get a book, I used to do this and lost wax and fabrication jewelry making in college to make extra money.

 

[allen]

if you can make a profit from it, go for it !