CB72 Vintage Racer
I'm preparing a pair of 1-1/16" Amal Monoblocs to test on the 250. These were the carbs favored by Pops Yoshimura when he built his 72/77s back in Japan. A true smoothbore design, in my opinion.
Plating the brass and steel with a bench top tin/zinc plating kit:  I had started with six carbs, of equal condition, and am building two good ones. Here are two of the donor carbs, and my refurbished ones. Bead blasted, then hit on the buff wheel for the bodies. Not completely original looking, but very clean! 
For years since my last update? Better late than never!
Aftermarket fairing mounted. The windscreen had many nasty scratches, so I wet sanded with 600 down to 1000 grit sand paper, then used a wool buff on my portable drill to buff to clear again. The buffing compound is a Mother's "83" dual action cleaner/polish.  I enlarged a photocopy of the CYB parts catalog to fab some replica foot pegs.  I used a 1" roughing end mill to cut the stays, then enlarged the outside edges of the radius a touch.  Test fit after welding, next off to the platers: 
I enjoy your postings- still looking at your photo bucket album - most interesting!
How do you like the results from your tin/zinc bench plater? I recall seeing something similar from Eastwood. I would be interested in more details on yours, as I have numerous small pieces to get plated-my plater has a minimum charge that requires a lot of pieces to justify the cost. I have been removing the zinc plating with Works toilet bowl cleaner [9.5% hydrogen chloride] prior to metal-working the parts, and it would be nice to plate them at home as I work up each detail, and easier to keep track of, too. As I said earlier, you have a nicely-equipped shop. Your projects reflect a lot of talent and ingenuity! Best regards, Dick
Dick, I used the Eastwood home tin-zinc plater for many years, it works well enough. I have always bead blasted the parts before plating, to remove rust. You can plate over old zinc plating, no problem.
The last three restorations I use: Cascade Plating 210 S Abbe Rd, Elyria, OH 44035 Phone:(440) 366-4931 There is no comparison. I can him him a small bucket of rusty bolts, and he will acid dip to remove rust, and plate thicker and shinier than what I could do with the home kit- for about $40 a batch.
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