Zinc Plating

[Mike Farmer]

 

I have just read and reread the 'piece' in the Star documenting the plating process. Very good and very informative and well up on my scale of things to. Overall very worthwhile read--thanks and congrats.

In fact the reversal of the de rusting process and it looks as easy.

The power source is different As I use a 12v battery charger, however this can easily be shut down to 6v. For de rusting I immerse in a mixture of water and common kitchen soda: would that work in this reverse format.

I shall look for a gold ring or something similar and give it a go, tho in truth I dont know what I would plate. So if you see someone with a recently missing finger---guess

Mike

[chaz]

I used to use a Frost plating kit, with a 12v battery charger.
you had the basis of zinc plating but there was also a blue additive that gave more of a chrome effect.
the only down side was you have to remember to oil internal threads as the rust soon grows in them.

as with all paint and plating jobs, its the preparation, ie, cleanliness and surface finish that is key to getting the desired look.

[Spaceman]

I can't say I fully understand the chemistry behind de-rusting by electrolysis but it is not quite the reverse of zinc plating - in both cases the steel part of interest is connected as the cathode and the sacrificial metal is connected as the anode. In de-rusting, it is the flow of electrons to the cathode that changes the black rust layer back into iron, whereas in zinc plating, it is the flow of zinc molecules from the anode that gets deposited on the steel part.

An important difference between the two processes, is that de-rusting is pretty tolerant to both the quality of the electrolyte and to the amount of current that flows. In contrast, both the quality of the electrolyte and the amount of current used in zinc plating need to be very careful controlled to get a good result.

I've been doing zinc plating for many years at home but I still find it a challenge sometimes, especially on parts that have seen a bit of corrosion.

[Mike Farmer]

 

Ironic.

I just picked up a Zinc wheel weight in the road outside my house. Perhaps its an omen----maybe saying forget it.

Mike

[BILL NELSON]

oil internal threads as the rust soon grows in them.

Chaz, Armours did some extra quality chrome plating on a new exhaust for me to post over to a friend in USA & explained that to get the plating into awkard areas, including interior cavities, an extra probe had to be inserted inside, but not touching.

The result was stunning & my mate was well impressed. Armours explained that very few of us are prepared to pay for the extra work involved...