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TR2/3/3A Hardware Refinishing

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M

mastaphixa

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As I begin my project, I am (of course) confronted with bolts, nuts ect.. that are in various stages of filth and corrosion. I have a good parts cleaner, a blasting cabinet and now a vibratory tumbler and several wire wheels so getting whatever form of grunge or corrosion off of a piece of hardware is not the issue. What to do with it once it's nice and shiny? Obviously anything that is no longer serviceable will be replaced, but the shiny used bits will turn right back to rust in no time unless some sort of coating is applied. I've looked into various plating systems such as cad or zinc via electrolysis but that looks fairly expensive and not exactly the sort of thing I really want to get involved in. On the other end of the scale is painting. Easy and relatively cheap to do. Doesn't last long either. I do powder coat things and could do that pretty easily. I was just wondering what other methods some of you have used that I haven't thought of.
Regards,
Steve
 
I try and stay stock for a guide and most times depending on the year of the “Hardware” it is body color or black. What works me on bolts and stuff is to blast, primmer and paint, but yes wirer wheels and what works. On the brass, I use brass cleaner and sos pads on the chrome.
 
I'm lucky enough to have a plating specialist nearby, J&E Specialty, Dover NH, and sent a bag of hardware, carb linkages and the like to have re plated. It cost about 50 bucks but it was a few years ago. I was pleased with the result.
Tom
 
There is a homemade zinc plating you can make up yourself using as 12v battery charger. I built one a couple of years ago. Just google it. Works decent. Takes a lot of time. I bead blast all my hardware then just clear coat then with rattle can. I like that look better.
Marv
 
Here's my solution:

https://www.nonlintec.com/tr4a/plating/

The chemicals are cheap and mostly nontoxic, but to get good results you really need to control the current. That's true of any plating process. You can get a decent current-limited laboratory power supply for a few tens of bucks on eBay, though. I have the 10-amp version of this one; 5 amps should be plenty, though:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/30V-5A-DC-...678214&hash=item2397066b17:g:zfwAAOSwO~VaUtii

In my opinion, replating nuts and bolts usually isn't worth the effort; I use mine mostly for all those little galvanized odds and ends that LBCs are made of.
 
I just paint mine after wire wheeling or tumbling. I do use anti seize on just about every thread that's just holding parts together, like fender or wiper motor nuts/bolts. I don't anti seize critical things like brake bolts or engine components, but everything that might rust itself solid gets some help.
One thing I will mention about powder coating is it's even been hard for me to chase the coating out of threads, and if you don't chase them you have no chance of getting a nut or bolt to start. Sure does look nice and last a long time, though.
 
Steve presents some really good information if you want to try home plating. If you are serious, forget all the Youtube offerings using battery chargers, batteries, or wall warts. You need to control the current to get protective, rather than just cosmetic plate.

I've done quite a lot of plating on my Triumph motorcycle, and my TR6 car, including many of the fasteners. The British bolts have a distinctive head pattern that some people notice. Also, have you ever tried to find these bullet-nosed bolts at a hardware store, or even online? These are the replated 44 year old door hinge bolts. The bullet nose makes it way easier to get them started.

Ed

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I'm not a big fan of stainless bolts. I'd rather use grade 5 or grade 8 depending on the application. Most of the spare hardware that I have is grade 8. Below is some info about various bolt materials. I have experienced the "galling" that is talked about in the link.

I've wire brushed or glass beaded most hardware. Sometimes I've clear coated and most of the time I use anti-sieze.

https://www.boltdepot.com/fastener-information/materials-and-grades/materials.aspx

[url]https://www.boltdepot.com/fastener-information/materials-and-grades/Thread-galling.aspx
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