Posted By: president61
Plating bolts - 08/07/14 06:55 AM
Anybody send bolts off to get plated? Thinking of sending suspension bolts and others out.
Plating bolts
Posted By: kentj340
Re: Plating bolts - 08/07/14 08:50 AM
Suspension bolts are mostly phosphated, aka Parkerized, same as the gun metal finish on military weapons.
You can DIY phosphating at home in your spare time with gunsmithing chemicals and a garage sale stainless electric skillet.
You can DIY zinc plating with a battery charger or power source, and you can do home chromating also. Chromate is a dip for newly electro-zinc plated parts that increases corrosion resistance and changes the color to yellow-rainbow, black, etc. Google is your friend.
In the past I have offered zinc anodes for plating here on Moparts parts for sale. Some day maybe I'll post how to get started with electro-zinc plating and chromating. Meantime I'm busy with restoring. Sorry.
You can DIY phosphating at home in your spare time with gunsmithing chemicals and a garage sale stainless electric skillet.
You can DIY zinc plating with a battery charger or power source, and you can do home chromating also. Chromate is a dip for newly electro-zinc plated parts that increases corrosion resistance and changes the color to yellow-rainbow, black, etc. Google is your friend.
In the past I have offered zinc anodes for plating here on Moparts parts for sale. Some day maybe I'll post how to get started with electro-zinc plating and chromating. Meantime I'm busy with restoring. Sorry.
Posted By: Pynzo
Re: Plating bolts - 08/07/14 12:24 PM
http://www.shootersolutions.com/parkerizing.html
I've used the heavy duty manganese/zinc on 3 antique Harleys , a Browning 1919 .30 cal machine gun, and several parts on my Bee. Works great! I use a 2 burner hot plate and turkey roasting pan for most parts and for longer pieces, gun barrels and gas tank straps, have a long wooden box to soak the piece in. I sealed the inside of the box so solution won't leak out.
http://www.caswellplating.com
For zinc electroplating kits.
Posted By: Gavin
Re: Plating bolts - 08/07/14 01:18 PM
As these guys have said, you can get kits to do it yourself. In fact I bought one years ago to do this.
Having said that, it is really cheap to give them to a local plater. I've had hundreds of parts from bolts & clips right up to trans dust covers done, in many different finishes, and to be honest it probably costs me less than doing it myself. Not to mention they will prep the parts by dipping them which save you more time. Only caveat I would say it that if you want an absolute correct factory finish you'll probably need to shop around (or do it yourself). I was less concerned with exact correctness and more with protection and appearance...and for that it is literally one of the very best bangs for the buck on the whole car.
Having said that, it is really cheap to give them to a local plater. I've had hundreds of parts from bolts & clips right up to trans dust covers done, in many different finishes, and to be honest it probably costs me less than doing it myself. Not to mention they will prep the parts by dipping them which save you more time. Only caveat I would say it that if you want an absolute correct factory finish you'll probably need to shop around (or do it yourself). I was less concerned with exact correctness and more with protection and appearance...and for that it is literally one of the very best bangs for the buck on the whole car.