Plating Porn
- Thread starter B0b
- Start date
Dr.Jeff
True Classic
That's a lot of hardware. Looks nice. 
It amazes me how much of the stock hardware had no plating or protection at all. I'll be interested in hearing how the zinc plating works for some of those applications you did. For example the brake caliper wedges; that might make them less prone to sticking and therefore work better for longer.
I thought about having the water jacket cover plates (front and rear ends of the block) plated to help protect the insides from corrosion.
It amazes me how much of the stock hardware had no plating or protection at all. I'll be interested in hearing how the zinc plating works for some of those applications you did. For example the brake caliper wedges; that might make them less prone to sticking and therefore work better for longer.
I thought about having the water jacket cover plates (front and rear ends of the block) plated to help protect the insides from corrosion.
B0b
Daily Driver
Perhaps there should be a "minimum beer before posting reply" rule??
Regarding the plating durability, it seems to survive tightening the bolts, but I am not sure how it will be on the brake spacers - I threw them in just for fun.
I think the success of the plating depends a lot on the pre-cleaning - in addition to the cleaning I did, which got rid of all the crud, the plating place went through a couple of cleaning steps.
While a number of parts were not plated by Fiat, most things had some form of protection, likely cadmium.
After I cleaned off 45 years of crud, using a vibratory tumbler, there we little of any of the original plating, and while shiny new plating is not what I wanted I couldn't see leaving all this stuff unprotected. When I took the parts out of the tumbler, and rinsed them off, they started to rust immediately.
I was going to plate the water jacket covers but in my case they weren't corroded, so I just cleaned them up and painted them the same as the block. Plating wouldn't be a bad idea, however.
Regarding the plating durability, it seems to survive tightening the bolts, but I am not sure how it will be on the brake spacers - I threw them in just for fun.
I think the success of the plating depends a lot on the pre-cleaning - in addition to the cleaning I did, which got rid of all the crud, the plating place went through a couple of cleaning steps.
While a number of parts were not plated by Fiat, most things had some form of protection, likely cadmium.
After I cleaned off 45 years of crud, using a vibratory tumbler, there we little of any of the original plating, and while shiny new plating is not what I wanted I couldn't see leaving all this stuff unprotected. When I took the parts out of the tumbler, and rinsed them off, they started to rust immediately.
I was going to plate the water jacket covers but in my case they weren't corroded, so I just cleaned them up and painted them the same as the block. Plating wouldn't be a bad idea, however.
myronx19
True Classic
Nice - quick question regarding the process.
Did they clean/etch/remove rust for you? And did these need to be wired, or were they barrel plated? I have buckets of fasteners, and I'd prefer to get them acid dipped + plated. There are a few places near me that do it, but I haven't tried doing it yet.
Did they clean/etch/remove rust for you? And did these need to be wired, or were they barrel plated? I have buckets of fasteners, and I'd prefer to get them acid dipped + plated. There are a few places near me that do it, but I haven't tried doing it yet.
B0b
Daily Driver
I ran them all through my vibratory tumbler, using a abrasive impregnated plastic media, with some water soluble degreaser that came with the media.
The parts were pretty much cleaned of rust, road crud, grease, and any plating. The plated ran them through an acid bath, which would get rid of any residual rust, and some chemical cleaning to degrease. I prayed the parts with WD40 after the tumbler to keep them from developing surface rust.
The place I took the ( Zincon, in Ottawa) wired them all up, and gave them back to me still wired. There are places in the GTA that do the same thing. FWIW, the batch you see in the photos cost under $200.
I thought barrel plating would be a better way but it seems like commercial barrel platers aren't too interested in little one-off jobs.
So basically I took them parts that were pretty clean. I liked the tumbler, because I could just fill it, leave it overnight, then pull out the parts and rinse them in hot water. Not labour free but a lot better than standing at a wire wheel with tiny parts. I thought I had a couple of photos of the tumbled parts but I can't locate them.
The parts were pretty much cleaned of rust, road crud, grease, and any plating. The plated ran them through an acid bath, which would get rid of any residual rust, and some chemical cleaning to degrease. I prayed the parts with WD40 after the tumbler to keep them from developing surface rust.
The place I took the ( Zincon, in Ottawa) wired them all up, and gave them back to me still wired. There are places in the GTA that do the same thing. FWIW, the batch you see in the photos cost under $200.
I thought barrel plating would be a better way but it seems like commercial barrel platers aren't too interested in little one-off jobs.
So basically I took them parts that were pretty clean. I liked the tumbler, because I could just fill it, leave it overnight, then pull out the parts and rinse them in hot water. Not labour free but a lot better than standing at a wire wheel with tiny parts. I thought I had a couple of photos of the tumbled parts but I can't locate them.
B0b
Daily Driver
Vibratory, just a cheap little 5 pound one.
I initially tried it dry - more or less useless - but when I added water and the degreasing concentrate it worked well, other than being limited in the size of parts.
I also tried using glass beads and walnut shells from my blasting cabinet, but didn't find they were of much use, at least for what I was trying to accomplish.
I initially tried it dry - more or less useless - but when I added water and the degreasing concentrate it worked well, other than being limited in the size of parts.
I also tried using glass beads and walnut shells from my blasting cabinet, but didn't find they were of much use, at least for what I was trying to accomplish.
Dr.Jeff
True Classic
That's about the same results I found. And it isn't a quick process. Typically I have a small amount of specific hardware for a particular component that I want to clean right away as I'm reinstalling something. So I just clean it with the wire wheel rather than wait. Guess I don't plan ahead enough.
The other type of machine (tumbler barrel) is even worse for cleaning, but works great for mixing: powders, liquids, chemicals, etc. I've heard it works well for polishing some soft metals when used with the right media, but I've never had a need to do that.
The other type of machine (tumbler barrel) is even worse for cleaning, but works great for mixing: powders, liquids, chemicals, etc. I've heard it works well for polishing some soft metals when used with the right media, but I've never had a need to do that.
Fiataccompli
Chris Granju
I’m guessing the tumbler rig is better for this than an ultrasonic cleaner?
a friend of mine who is meticulously restoring a Porsche 911 recently posted photos of the plating rig he set up for parts. At first glance it looked like a mad scientist project that also would be quite doable. I may try the same. I have so so much factory find threaded metric hardware that is perfectly good but not particularly beautiful.
a friend of mine who is meticulously restoring a Porsche 911 recently posted photos of the plating rig he set up for parts. At first glance it looked like a mad scientist project that also would be quite doable. I may try the same. I have so so much factory find threaded metric hardware that is perfectly good but not particularly beautiful.
BEEK
True Classic
did you do your own plating?Here is one photo of my work on carburetors, some plated small parts from Dellorto, will add more this days
View attachment 27656
Dr.Jeff
True Classic
I've seen several "DIY" home plating kits and instructions for making your own apparatus online. Different types of plating need different methods. A couple of people that I know have tried it were not particularly happy with the outcome. I'm sure some techniques are better than others, as well as choice of materials, etc. So the result may depend. On the other hand it is not particularly cheap to get it done professionally (relative to other finishing methods). So it might depend on your goals/expectations and budget.
andreav
True Classic
No, I just prepare parts then I send on plating.
andreav
True Classic
I also bought one DIY kit but never tries, but as you said, think that finish cant be as when is done by profesionals with real equpment.
Plating is here not expensive but another problem is that many company dont want small parts or used automotive parts, luckly I find some connections and find way that is this made.