restoring old bolts

davomoto · Post by **davomoto** » Thu Oct 07, 2010 10:07 am

Honda used zinc. It is shinier than cadnium, but also quite a bit less durable. I personally have my hardware done in cadnium. One day I will try doing the home version of zinc plating, but really don't have the time now.

LOUD MOUSE · Post by **LOUD MOUSE** » Thu Oct 07, 2010 11:14 am

I use a company in Fort Worth, Texas to do my cad. plating.
Been doing business with them since 1993 and they have always done good by me.
I always clean the grease/dirt from the parts and that will get the parts back sooner and cheaper.
I do have the "in house plating kit, zinc" which I use when I need just a couple/one part done. .................lm

davomoto wrote:Honda used zinc. It is shinier than cadnium, but also quite a bit less durable. I personally have my hardware done in cadnium. One day I will try doing the home version of zinc plating, but really don't have the time now.

Glenardo · Post by **Glenardo** » Thu Oct 07, 2010 9:13 pm

Eastwood Auto Parts have plating and blackening kits.

http://search.eastwood.com/search?asug= ... &ts=custom

Wilf · Post by **Wilf** » Fri Oct 08, 2010 9:59 am

nc_rider--here's how I do it:

-wire brush and de-grease the part (I sometimes use electrolysis to remove major rust)
-hang the part from a copper or aluminum wire in the plating solution
-hook positive 3 volts to the zinc, and negative to the part being plated
-after 5 to 20 minutes, rinse off the part and brush it with a soft brass brush

Plating solution:

Dissolve 1/4 lb of Epsom salts and 1/4 lb of white sugar into a quart of white vinegar

You can see the bubbling as my coil bracket is being plated. The zinc is "Goodbye Moss Roof Strip" bought at my building supply store. I have also used zincs for boats, but I like the strip for its surface area and it's easy to fit it to the bucket. The tops of the zincs are held in place by copper wire around the lip of the bucket.

Wilf

G-Man · Post by **G-Man** » Fri Oct 08, 2010 10:03 am

Wilf

Thank you for sharing your method. Nothing stopping me having a go now.

Cheers

G

Wilf · Post by **Wilf** » Fri Oct 08, 2010 10:22 am

You're welcome, G-Man.

Standard safety precautions apply:

-electricity and water
-be careful not to create a short circuit
-the bubbles are hydrogen gas and oxygen
-don't use table salt--chlorine gas!

If you try plating with too much voltage or current, you will get a black, smutty result-brush it off and start again.

Sometimes I plate a part, rinse and brush it off, then re-plate. This adds layers of zinc and gives a better result than just one thick plating.

Wilf

G-Man · Post by **G-Man** » Fri Oct 08, 2010 11:47 am

Wilf

Thanks again. I'll bear that in mind when I have a go. I have been doing electrolytic de-rusting for a while but I like the idea of smartening up the odd small part where care and patience is required or I'm too scared to let parts out of my sight.

G