Cadmium / zinc plating

[Pandora]

I'm sure there was an earlier thread discussing the success (or otherwise) of these plating kits you can buy reasonably cheaply on ebay?

I've got my wishbones for the special cleaned up to bare metal but chroming is very pricey - wondering if these kits are worth as try.

any views?

Al

[madaboutcherry]

this is an interesting question, i,m rebuilding a pair of hs2,s this summer, and was looking at one of these,
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Zinc-plating- ... 3cc4e9bad0

[STG95F]

I had one of these kits , not very good at all

hope this helps Ian

[Gray]

The one sold by Frosts is rubbish too.

[madaboutcherry]

what's wrong with them? i can't afford to have the parts done professionally.

[STG95F]

The plating comes out very dull and very thin (CRAP in other words ) , Most plating places will charge the cost of one of these kits for a box full of parts to be done , and they come out very good , not worth all the hassle to be honest

Ian

[Pandora]

good advice chaps, and pretty much what I expected. Would love to get my wishbones and trailing links chromed, but it's so dear for a decent job, I wondered if this was an option. I appers not.

Probably get them powder coated until funds allow.

[DFH8C]

I used one of those kits when restoring an old trials bike and it worked really well. The parts HAVE to be cleaned thoroughly and washed off with an acid before treatment this ensures a good finish is achieved.

[mini129]

You will not get a kit for cadmium plating; who would want one it is carcenogenic (sic). I have however found a place that will cadmium plate my rocker cover to replicate the early speedwell one's. They do it legally for the Natural gas and Aircraft industries.
As for the cost of zinc plating its cheap to get someone else to do it considering the result you get and the fact that your better half will not complain about the increased use of electricity in the house not to mention the waste chemicals you inadvertantly flushed down the drain at the end of the process.

[guru_1071]

me and mark have used the little home kits before, and they are not very good, they will coat the stuff, but its difficult to get an even coating.


for what a plating company charge to do the stuff its a no brainer

[Tim]

...As for the cost of zinc plating its cheap to get someone else to do it considering the result you get and the fact that your better half will not complain about the increased use of electricity in the house not to mention the waste chemicals you inadvertantly flushed down the drain at the end of the process...

It barely uses any electricity, instructions for Caswell's copy-cad system recommends 0.12 to 0.17 amps per sq” of surface area @ 0.8 to 1.5 volts, that is only 1/4 of a watt per square inch.

Most of the better quality kits come with methods to neutralise the waste. There shouldn't really be much volume of waste chemicals at the end anyway, the plating solutions should last indefinitely if care is taken to avoid contaminating them.

Tim

[mk1]

I don't agree with Rich here.

I have used a number of different kits for different purposes, I found the Caswell Copy Cad kit to be absolutely brilliant. The only economic method of getting a Cadmium like finish that I am aware of. I used this kit on all the C-AHT1's & 2's I used to do & everyone seemed to like them.

There are many tricks to getting a good result though & you will never be able to plate large areas due to inadequate PSU's.

Having said the above, if I am just getting a batch of bright zinc plated bits done, carb parts for example, I will just give them to "My Man" who will do them fast, cheaply & very, very well.

[guru_1071]

mark

im just spoilt by been able to give a bag of grubby bits to 'your man' a week later they come back looking perfect!

[Pandora]

can this 'man' do wishbones and trailing links by post?

Al

[Will Grant]

Al i have sent you a PM with details of someone closer to you.