Plating some parts - Heart attack!

[Basil]

I took my front suspension parts (upper and lower A-arms, hub carriers) and my four brake calipers to get a quote today to have them plated in electroless nickle. Yikes! $500! I wasn't expecting it to be that high!

 

[Dave Russell]

Maybe you could just ty-rap some aluminum foil over the parts or use aluminum paint.

 

[JIM]

If you do use the aluminum foil, make sure to use the aluminum color duct tape to hold it on!
Jim

 

[aeronca65t]

Sand blast and flat-aluminum paint. Seriously. (and wax them well before installation)

 

[tony barnhill]

BAS-IL! Its only $$$'s!

 

[Basil]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Dave Russell:
Maybe you could just ty-rap some aluminum foil over the parts or use aluminum paint.

<hr></blockquote>

Dave, you must be some kinda dad-gum genious! Thanks for the tip - saved me $500!

Before

After

But seriously, I took a sample part (one of my upper A-Arm mount brackets) to the platers for a test plating. I had it plated in electroless nickle and I am very pleased with the result. Not too shiny. Looks like new. Here's side-by-side picture I just took the one on the left is unplated (just been bead blasted). The one on right is plated. Tomorrow I will take them the rest of the parts, includig brake calipers tomorrow.

[ 10-16-2003: Message edited by: Basil ]</p>

 

[tony barnhill]

Waaaaaaaaaay too much free time, Basil!

 

[Constance Martin]

LOL Basil, when do you plan to get this car done?????

 

[Basil]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by CCM:
LOL Basil, when do you plan to get this car done?????

<hr></blockquote>

The current plan is: before I die

[ 10-17-2003: Message edited by: Basil ]</p>

 

[Steve]

Try to time it at least several weeks before you die.....then at least you will be able to drive it! Then leave it in your will to me!

 

[mdallaire]

Basil if you don't make your dead line do ya want us to bury you in it?? We could wrap it in shiny foil.

 

[Steve]

Basil....I have a contact for chroming parts.....slightly different process but real chrome plating nonetheless. He says he will give you a deal. Let me know if interested.

 

[Basil]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Steve:
Basil....I have a contact for chroming parts.....slightly different process but real chrome plating nonetheless. He says he will give you a deal. Let me know if interested.<hr></blockquote>

Thanks for the offer but that wouold be too far from the original look. They were opriginally plated in Cad and I am having them done it electroless nickle which appears to be a good substitute (not mant places do Cad any more due to environmental issues).

Basil

 

[Dave Russell]

Hi Bas,

Couple of caution notes on plating;

This especially applies to highly stressed parts such as suspensions. It is less important on purely decorative parts.

The process of hydrogen embrittlement (HE) occurs with most plating operations. Hydrogen is deposited in the metal as part of the plating process.

HE removes the ductility from the metal & can cause structural failures of the part without warning if the part is under cyclic stresses, which suspension certainly is.

HE can be prevented by, immediately after plating, placing the parts in a a oven at 375 to 400 F & baking for a period of 100 hours.This difuses the hydrogen molecules out of the metal.

The plating methods which cause the most HE are chrome, cadmium, nickel, & electroless nickel in descending order. Chrome is by far the worst problem & should always be baked. Electroless nickel would be my only choice & you "probably" could get away without baking it. Depends upon how highly stressed the particular designed parts are.

I believe that many if not all racing organizations prohibit plating of critical parts such as suspensions for safety reasons.
D

 

[Basil]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Dave Russell:
Hi Bas,

Couple of caution notes on plating;

<snip>

The plating methods which cause the most HE are chrome, cadmium, nickel, & electroless nickel in descending order.<hr></blockquote>

Well, luckily, mine was done in electroless nickle. (I got it back by the way and am generally happy, although there are a couple of small pieces that I want them to re-do.

By the way, Dave, I'm disappointed that you didn't comment on my implementation of your tin foil and tie wrap idea (picture above).

Basil

 

[Dave Russell]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Basil:


By the way, Dave, I'm disappointed that you didn't comment on my implementation of your tin foil and tie wrap idea (picture above).
Basil

<hr></blockquote>

I thought you could have done it better than "THAT"
Don't think you tried very hard. Must need more experience using tie wraps?
D

 

[aerog]

Cheap alternative: https://www.eastwoodco.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=10022+Z&I1.x=35&I1.y=48

 

[Constance Martin]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Dave Russell:
Hi Bas,

Couple of caution notes on plating;

HE can be prevented by, immediately after plating, placing the parts in a a oven at 375 to 400 F & baking for a period of 100 hours.D<hr></blockquote>


I wonder if Mrs Basil will allow this?