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How to brighten up plated nuts and bolts? #2916009
04/28/21 08:48 AM
04/28/21 08:48 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,606
Detroit area
6PAX Offline OP
master
6PAX  Offline OP
master

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,606
Detroit area
I have a handful of plated nuts and bolts (I assume zinc) that are yellowish/gold in color that are kind of tarnished/dull looking. I'd like to try and get them looking bright again. Is there something I can soak them in that will brighten them out without damaging the plating?

Re: How to brighten up plated nuts and bolts? [Re: 6PAX] #2916021
04/28/21 09:22 AM
04/28/21 09:22 AM
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,363
Iowa
burdar Offline
Owen's Dad
burdar  Offline
Owen's Dad

Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,363
Iowa
A quick soak in EvapoRust will brighten them up. Maybe 10-15 minutes.(you can experiment with different times) The zinc is looking tarnished because it's doing the job it was meant to do. The zinc is a sacrificial coating. It's being eaten away instead of the fastener. I'm not sure how long the brighter appearance will last once you remove it from the EvapoRust. It just depends on how much zinc is already worn away and how much is remaining on the fastener.

Re: How to brighten up plated nuts and bolts? [Re: burdar] #2916024
04/28/21 09:30 AM
04/28/21 09:30 AM
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,267
Connecticut
1972CudaV21 Offline
master
1972CudaV21  Offline
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,267
Connecticut
Metal Polish or lime juice.


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Re: How to brighten up plated nuts and bolts? [Re: 6PAX] #2916145
04/28/21 02:21 PM
04/28/21 02:21 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,043
State of Confusion
hp383 Offline
Just a normal tag again
hp383  Offline
Just a normal tag again

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,043
State of Confusion
A local plater may be able to redo the zinc plating, or there are DIY kits available to do it yourself.

that will both brighten, and replenish the zinc coating.


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Re: How to brighten up plated nuts and bolts? [Re: 6PAX] #2916197
04/28/21 04:47 PM
04/28/21 04:47 PM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,396
It's a dry heat
gtx6970 Offline
Too Many Posts
gtx6970  Offline
Too Many Posts

Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,396
It's a dry heat
Soak them in pine sol for a bit.

Its not as aggressive as evaporust or carb cleaners

Re: How to brighten up plated nuts and bolts? [Re: 6PAX] #2916376
04/29/21 02:44 AM
04/29/21 02:44 AM
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,653
Cut and Shoot, TX
kentj340 Offline
top fuel
kentj340  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,653
Cut and Shoot, TX
Originally Posted by 6PAX
I have a handful of plated nuts and bolts (I assume zinc) that are yellowish/gold in color that are kind of tarnished/dull looking. I'd like to try and get them looking bright again. Is there something I can soak them in that will brighten them out without damaging the plating?


The way your yellowish/gold parts were originally processed was (1) zinc plate, (2) brief dip in 5% muratic acid and (3) dip in yellow sodium dichromate solution. If the zinc plating is still intact, all you have to do is repeat steps (2) and (3) to get back to the exact original appearance. Muratic acid is cheap and readily available. 1/4 lb of powdered sodium dichromate is about 14 bucks delivered from eBay.

Follow the steps written up in forbbodiesonly here except skip the zinc plating. But DIY zinc plating is relatively easy. I sell pure zinc on eBay for zinc plating.

You could prep the parts by degreasing and hand wire brushing while wearing rubber or nitrile gloves to avoid any fingerprints. Degrease again and rinse after wire brushing. Power wire brushing could be too harsh on the zinc plating.

A good video is here.

download.jpg

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