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Electroplating at Home

Discussion in 'Tech Tips' started by Willrcr15, Jan 6, 2016.

  1. Willrcr15

    Willrcr15 Well-Known Member

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    My Bike:
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    I had a first attempt to zinc coat some parts, connecting bars & a choke rod off the carbies before I re assemble them as part or a restoration.
    Before I try to find some propper chemicals I tried some household items, Vinegar, Epsom Salts & Sugar for the saline bath & I got a couple of Zinc blocks from the Chandlery.
    All up $15 for the zinc & about $5 for the Vinegar from Aldi & $6 for the Epsom Salt from Woolies (Bunnings got it too in the fertilizer isle at the same $$)
    Anyway, some heavy copper hanging wire out of some 10mm 3 phase cable & 2 AA batteries.
    It worked ok, but not good enough, there's a couple of rusty spots that didn't take.
    The trick was to dip it for about a couple of minutes, I left the first piece in for too long, like overnight in the end to see & it came out raw & has rusted all over since.
    I dipped the 3rd piece for the shortest time & it worked ok, no rusty spots but all parts are dull zinc, apparently the sugar will brighten it up.
    My quantities were rough, 1/2 kg of Epsom & a cup of sugar in 3 Ltrs of vinegar, all guesswork.
    I've got a better recipe to try it all again with some proper chemicals when I find them, busy getting the big workshop locked up at the moment
    I'll post a pic of the setup soon.
    I've seen pics of some bloody great results with the propper bgear so I'm determined to get it right
    More to come soon if anyone's interested.
     
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  2. Murdo

    Murdo The Good Doctor Staff Member Contributing Member Ride and Events Crew

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    I use a Caswell kit from a bloke in Melbourne.
    The parts to be plated have to be surgically clean. I bead blast, wire wheel, wash with thinners, hot degrease bath, clean water rinse before putting into the zinc solution. Also wash the parts with an alkaline soap after to neutralize the acids to prevent rusting.
     
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  3. Willrcr15

    Willrcr15 Well-Known Member

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    IMG_2963.JPG The parts were sand blasted but likely to have been contaminated by the time they were done, I suspected the cleanliness was an issue.
     
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    Last edited: Jan 6, 2016
  4. Joker

    Joker See "about me" for contact details. Contributing Member

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    Be interested to see the result.
     
  5. Willrcr15

    Willrcr15 Well-Known Member

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    I'll call Caswell & see if I can get the chemicals for the bath off them & work up to a proper kit if necessary with a power unit.
    One thing for sure it does work, I've had to paint parts in the past that would have been better zincked so I'll persevere, should be worth the effort.
    What results do you have Murdo, is it worth it ?
     
  6. Murdo

    Murdo The Good Doctor Staff Member Contributing Member Ride and Events Crew

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    1937 Royal Enfield 250, CF Moto 250 V5, Honda's XL250, CBR250, FT500 plus a few others.
    Definately. It is a bit of mucking around, and the smoother you can have the surface finish the better the result. My trophy winning bike parts have all been done by me.
    Caswell have a 'brightener' chemical that works good too.
     
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  7. flea

    flea Well-Known Member Premium Member Contributing Member

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    87 cbx250 / 73 ..74..78 yam xs650 /zzr1100 / tdm850 /zxr250c / 250 across / 2008 canam spyder /xs250 / xs250 spyder
    been looking at caswell products for yrs but due to the prices havnt done the deed and also due to more isolated area don't know anyone who has used them ,will be very intrested on info on both caswell (very $$$) and the home made versions
     
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