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alternate to plating?

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H

Hawkscoach

Jedi Hopeful
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Gentlemen, this is getting exciting to be putting parts back on! Several smaller electrical bits I would like to install before putting the engine/trans back in. What do you guys use to "plate" the metal on these parts. Are there alternatives to sending out. for example: Flasher relay cover...........thanks, Doug
 
Bead blast and chrome paint. Does not look chrome at all like advertise but it does look similar to a silver cad plate. Eastwood also sells paints to mimic plated parts, but I find the chrome plate does the same for less.
 
Although I have never done it I have heard some people will spray a clear coat finish (as used with modern automotive topcoat paints) on unfinished metal surfaces.
 
Hawkscoach,

There are DIY cad and zinc plating kits available to brighten small metal parts. Is that what you are looking to do?
 
thanks guys! yes, CLEAh, I am trying to get the look close to the original. If I bead blast they will be a rough almost primer look (although the rust will be gone). I also have an "environmentally friendly" water based fluid from Eastwood (pricey) that works ok on lightly rusted bits. I have seen many of restored AH pictures and wasn't sure what to use.................thanks, Doug
 
Hawkscoach said:
thanks guys! yes, CLEAh, I am trying to get the look close to the original. If I bead blast they will be a rough almost primer look (although the rust will be gone). I also have an "environmentally friendly" water based fluid from Eastwood (pricey) that works ok on lightly rusted bits. I have seen many of restored AH pictures and wasn't sure what to use.................thanks, Doug
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I had all my parts CAD plated and baked. It is brighter and shinery than the orginal Zinc plating. CAD adds a few thousands to the thickness to the parts and those that are worn will have/could their original thickness restored. Cost was about $40 (plus/minus), for a gallon paint can full. I've had a couple of guys on the BCF ask me where to get CAD done and I gave them a Contact in the Ft worth, TX area that I use. They responded back that they were happy with the work and service.
 
I've used the Eastwood zinc plating kit, got good results but there are a couple things you need to know. First, the parts must be absolutely clean and derusted. And small flakes in a pit or trapped in threads or such can leave a streak in the plating. Ans second, the battery source to power it is way too small for any piece of any size. I use an old toy train controller to run the plating. Depending in the size of the piece I adjust the "throttle" up or down since it controls the DC current. When complete, rinse off with water, dry and buff lightly with very fine steel wool.
 
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