Electroplating

[PeterK]

Someone just gave me a 25amp electroplating retifier.

Of course, now I have to spend $$ to put a bucket plater together.

On my list is: zinc plating hardware and carb parts. Chromium dipping, yellow "cad" coating, black coating the zinc plated parts.

I've been reading forums, caswell, etc.

Anyone here doing their own plating small parts that could share some experience with me? I'm not interested in chrome plating, just replating the cad coated pieces with zinc.

 

[dklawson]

Not to discourage you but...

My wife has worked with the Caswell kits and I have prepared her metal parts prior to plating. The finish below the plate determines what you get on the surface. So, like painting, preparation is everything.

As you pointed out, you now have a power supply but you are faced with chemicals and supplies. Most industrial platers are more than willing to plate a bucket of hardware for a lot charge. In the end you will probably find that zinc, or yellow zinc-chromate will cost you a lot less at the plater than buying the chemicals alone. For a really nice look, consider going with nickel plate.

 

[Brinkerhoff]

Peter, I've done a lot of Caswells zinc plating. They are also most helful on the phone. I clean parts with blasting or wire wheel , then rinse with non chlorinated brake cleaner in an aerosol. Wire up and plate per the instructions. Air agitation , bath temp., amperage are all critical . Done correctly and the part is very bright,shiny , a little more so than what you'd find on the nuts and bolts at a hardware store. As far as I know on a Healey , TR, MGA, T series, cadmium was not used , just zinc.