Method and device for the repair and/or touch-up of small surface flaws in a press plate or an endless band for surface-embossing of plastic-coated wooden or laminated panels

A method for repairing and/or touching up surface flaws each having a damaged area smaller than 14 mm.sup.2 in a press plate or an endless band of sheet metal which is substantially larger than the surface flaws, the press plate or endless band of sheet metal having a structured surface for surface-embossing plastic-coated wooden or laminated panels, the method comprising surrounding each surface flaw with a mask;

• pickling the flaw;
• microgalvanically copper-plating the flaw to cover the flaw;
• pickling the microgalvanically copper-plated flaw;
• microgalvanically cobaltizing the pickled copper-plated flaw, and providing the press plate or the endless band with a full-coverage copper or brass layer;
• structuring the copper or brass layer;
• and hard-chrome plating the entire copper or brass layer, wherein the microgalvanically copper-plating and cobaltizing steps are each performed by applying a maximum amount of 3 ml of a galvanic solution to each flaw, providing an electrode tip which is sufficiently small to be dipped into the applied galvanic solution, and dipping the electrode tip into the applied galvanic solution.