restoring old bolts

[Wilf]

Donzie,

I don't really know where to start because I don't know what your set-up is.

I'm thinking you have the positive DC (AC will create lots of fizzing but no transfer of zinc) connected to the zinc anodes? And that the fizzing is coming from the part to be plated? And that your power source will supply enough current (100-200 milliamps) for small parts?

Are you trying to plate clean steel?

If you put a nice shiny piece of copper wire in the electrolyte, does it get plated with zinc?

You've got me puzzled because it sounds like you have experience with zinc plating.

Wilf

[GG]

Okay Wilf - I'm all set. My zinc arrived last night, and I found a cordless phone charger - 9v and 200 milli Amps. I've got my eye on an ice cream bucket, but it still has ice cream in it. It's a good thing my son and his girl friend came last night for reinforcements - maybe we can get the ice cream finished soon!

All I have is a little 1 pound block of zinc I bought off e-bay, so I'm going to saw some strips and string them around the bucket, as you show. I also have to de-rust a few of the parts. I've scrubbed and brushed them, but some have some nooks and crannies I can't get to, so I have a de-rusting solution of phosphoric acid and muriatic acid. I'll see how that works.

Can't wait to start! If you see a huge explosion to the south, it was me...

GG

[Wilf]

GG,

Good to hear that you're all set to give it a try! I have one word of caution about your charger--the plating may want to draw more than 200 miliamps, so check it frequently to see it's not getting too warm. If it is, you may need a resistor in the circuit, and it may also take a bit longer to do the plating.

Where in Costa are you? I have three relatives in Santa Teresa.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

Wilf

[GG]

Okay Wilf - here's the first report. I didn't get your message on time, and burned up the phone charger in 15 minutes. It didn't really seem that warm, but it's toast.

Second run was with my motorcycle battery. 'Way too many amps! Boiled the solution and sort of black. No good.

Third attempt was with a little ole "D" battery. Worked GREAT! So then the trick was to make sure EVERY SPECK OF RUST AND GREASE was off the parts. That wasn't the case at the beginning, so the first ones were so-so. When I got rolling, I found that on good clean metal the zinc goes right on pretty quickly. In 5 minutes I can have a good plate.

Technical question: Does the bubbling have any direct relation to the plating? In other words, will the bubbling sort of stop when the surface isn't pulling any more zinc? It seemed that that sort of was the case, but not sure.

Something I found - I'm using a one gallon ice-cream bucket with about 7 strips of zinc cut from a 1 lb bar. They are sort of far away from the center - I did this because some pieces are big (foot pegs, etc). But it make a BIG difference if you can get the piece close to a zinc bar. Just for anyone else wanting to do their own zinc.

Tomorrow I'm going to continue my batch. Superhawk on the way!

(Wilf - I live in Guadalupe, San José. Which "Santa Teresa" do you people live in? There are several! Are you ever coming to Costa Rica to visit them? If so, mi casa es su casa).

GG

[davomoto]

G, you will find that in a couple days, the bath will be saturated with zinc, and it will hardley bubble at all when you plate.

Davo

[Wilf]

GG,

Sorry to hear about your charger, and yes, using your motorcycle battery without limiting the current will just create a lot of oxygen and hydrogen gas instead of plating.

About the bubbling--I wrote my thoughts on this in the thread, "for the home plating specialist" in the "Everything Else" section of the forum--page 7.

You are quite right about the proximity effect when plating. An area of the part that is 1 inch away from the zinc anode will receive 4 times the zinc than an area 2 inches away from the zinc, and 9 times more zinc than an area 3 inches away (the law of inverse squares). I try to keep my parts centered in the bucket or turn the parts frequently to ensure an even plating.

My niece has been living/surfing in Santa Teresa for several years, so it's on the coast. Pura Vida!

Wilf

[GG]

Final update - My "D" cell battery plated all day long, and I only had to finish 3 or 4 bolts with a new one.

I was not de-greasing the parts enough. A quick bath in lacquer thinner before plating really made a big difference.

Everything else has turned out great. I've got a nice batch of shiny bolts and pieces. The only hard part is getting the zinc into holes like on the foot pegs.

Wilf - thanks for the tip! I really enjoyed the job. I'm now on to the rest of the bike. Thanks again!

GG