Zinc Plating DIY - Page 5 - the Pelican Parts Forum!

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Join Date: Jul Location: Coastside SF Bay Posts: 205 Hi All- I've been really appreciating this thread. I think there are huge advantages to being able to plate parts in small batches and "on demand", at least for those of us who are working through only one or two cars at a time. One of the biggest upsides I see is being able to maintain your own personal parts-organization system as you go... I, for one, am not experienced enough to be able to recognize the function and location of individual nuts and bolts by sight; so being able to keep small groups of parts together and labeled as you work through the plating process seems great. I've just been to a local plating shop for a bunch of engine hardware, and while the shop was very friendly and helpful, the reality with a pro shop is that I'll get everything back as one big bag o' parts- and it'll be up to me to remember where everything goes. I'm also gonna be hit hard by their minimum fees, which are "per-process", meaning that it's only really cost-effective to take your plated parts to the shop once you have a LOT of parts to do, and in each plating color you want. Because of this, I'll end up doing a lot more parts in yellow cad than I would normally choose, just because it doesn't make sense to pay a minimum fee to get 3 parts done in black (...for example). The DIY approach really affords flexibility here, and I'm almost certain to give it a go next time around.

A couple of quick questions for the forum: How do you store your chemicals when you're done with a batch of parts? Are you dumping them right away, or will they keep (safely) in those gasketed Ikea bins (or other)? If so, for how long?

Also, any seat-of-the-pants thoughts on costs (including your time) of DIY plating some of our more standard hardware (nuts, bolts, washers etc.) vs. sourcing new parts? I'm thinking, for example, it's just more cost effective to buy new washers for all the standard stuff than it would be to clean, tumble/polish and plate the old ones.

Thanks all. I'll post some pics of my professionally plated parts, when I get them back in a week or so, just for reference...

Jake
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Join Date: Apr Location: Austin, TX Posts: 9,108 Better living through chemistry.

I plate a lot of hardware. I buy clear zinc coated (cheap) in bulk and then use the Caswell Chromate materials and process to color them. It is pretty simple.

I degrease the new hardware. Then it gets a water rinse and then denatured alcohol rinse followed by air nozzle dry. I let them sit for about 30 minutes to fully dry. Then they get a 45-60 second immersion in the plating solution. The longer you leave them the darker color they turn. Next is a cold water rinse followed by a second cold water rinse. Then let dry over night.

I can plate about 50 nuts, 100 washers and 10 bolts at a time. I string them on fine copper wire and immerse in a quart sized pre-mixed bucket.

Here is an example.

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Jamie - I can explain it to you. But I can not understand it for you.
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Join Date: Apr Location: Austin, TX Posts: 9,108 I string them then let them sit on the bottom with one end of the wire out the top. Then basically shake the bottle so that the parts are agitated and are freely coated. As long as they are wet with solution the electroless plating will work fine.

The string can be a loop where the parts hang loose or tie up a single piece and then stack on top. I usually string 10 at at time but you can plate multiple strings simultaneously depending on your personal dexterity.

Careful with washers as the surface tension causes them to stick together. In this case, pay attention to how they are stacked. Washers are always stamped and usually have a slight lip from the punch process. Place them so that the lips are touching on each alternating pair. This will give just enough gap so they do not stick.

Oh, And don't touch with your hands. Wear gloves or the oils will transfer to the hardware and you will plate around your finger prints. Though I guess this would be good ID for stolen parts...

Yeah, you don't want to touch the plating solutions either...

I save all my rinse water, let it evaporate to concentrate and recycle back into my plating solution. The chromate is powder so you can "dry" and concentrate. Oh, and use distilled water for your mix and rinse process. Minerals in tap water can deplete your plating bath. Basic chemistry skills. Keep solutions clean and don't mix unless you intend to and understand the actions that may happen. __________________
Jamie - I can explain it to you. But I can not understand it for you.
71 911T SWT - Sun and Fun Mobile
72 911T project car. "Minne" - A tangy version of tangerine #projectminne
classicautowerks.com - EFI conversion parts and suspension setups. IG Classicautowerks