Zinc Plating kit (1 Viewer)

[xtremeVA]

He actually said I would need the following items to do everything.

https://www.caswellplating.com/copy-cad-reg-and-zinc-plating-kit-1-5-gal.html


https://www.caswellplating.com/yellow-chromate.html


https://www.caswellplating.com/3-amp-constant-current-rectifier.html

What about the tank heaters? From what I remember looking into the Caswell plating kits, some of the tanks need to be heated for best results. Fish tank heaters with thermostats aren't good enough because they are typically only heat up to 90 degF. Anyone have suggestions for heaters?

 

[Rainman]

I may just be a bit anal when it comes to the details but The place in Nashville will do up to 125lbs for $55.00. They have told me they love to do my stuff because smaller clean batches get better quality control. I either Metal Restore, parts cleaner, wire wheel, and or blast then thread chasing all the hardware and brackets I want plated. I don't keep track of all of it only because I somehow remember nearly every bolt for every application. Don't ask me how. I've tried testing the rust resistance on their work and it has passed every time. I suspect it takes 20 hours at least to go through the entire process this way but it pays off every time. (At least I think so.)


Before/during/after

 

[LSUfj]

What about the tank heaters? From what I remember looking into the Caswell plating kits, some of the tanks need to be heated for best results. Fish tank heaters with thermostats aren't good enough because they are typically only heat up to 90 degF. Anyone have suggestions for heaters?

How about a sous vide for cooking? They’ll heat up a container of water to 150+.

 

[Coolerman]

I recently ordered the copy cad system from Caswell. Got the 1.5 gallon kit, 1 extra bucket for making an acid pickling dip tank and the yellow chromate solution. Kit comes with most everything except the power supply and heaters.

I ordered this constant current/voltage 5 amp power supply to do smaller parts :
Power Supply

For bigger parts I will use a old battery charger or a 12V battery using small +12V bulbs wires in series as the current controller.

For heaters I ordered these 1500W units:
Tank Heater

I have no idea if they will work for long in the acid solutions, but they were cheap enough to at least try them. They are stainless steel...
They have no thermostat, but if they work I plan on getting a cheap temp controller like this one 10A 110V Digital Temperature Controller Temp Sensor Thermostat Control Relay US 708624426335 | eBay and wiring in a relay capable of handling 20 amps instead of the 10A this one has built in.

I have a cheap digital thermometer with a remote probe good for up to 160 degrees. I will wrap the probe in plastic wrap to protect it from the acids.
Got the distilled water at Wal-Mart

I hope to set the system up sometime this spring/summer when my day job slows a bit.
I am not going to offer services doing this, just plan on doing my own crap...

 

[Coolerman]

sous vide

The container with the solutions must be plastic that is resistant to the acids/plating solutions.

 

[kcisland]

Restoring our rigs is a labor of love, some OCD, and expensive...you got to want to do it...

CAD goodness...

 

[Coolerman]

Wow! I wonder how much current it would take to plate the fan shroud!

 

[ToyotaMatt]

Silver Zinc Plating Kit Eastwood Company

 

[ToyotaMatt]

 

[ToyotaMatt]

 

[Coolerman]

Those look great Matt! Do you go over them with steel wool or are you using the brightner in the plating solution or both?

 

[ToyotaMatt]

I go over them using a BRASS tooth brush , it polishes them BRIGHT !

i have Not tried steel wool ?

the kit comes with some cream in a toothpaste tube , but it did not work like the brass tooth brush does

 

[tstepp920]

Restoring our rigs is a labor of love, some OCD, and expensive...you got to want to do it...

CAD goodness...

View attachment 1937338

View attachment 1937339

Tell us how you did the fan shroud. The fan shroud on my 1980 was CAD plated

 

[karp68]

Hey guys.....what are you asking for when getting your plating done...yellow zinc, yellow cad, or gold cad) and I thought I remember reading, make sure you request 3x yellow cad (I assume 3 dips)??

@emac
@bb67tlc
@S4Cruiser

Thanks,

 

[S4Cruiser]

Hey guys.....what are you asking for when getting your plating done...yellow zinc, yellow cad, or gold cad) and I thought I remember reading, make sure you request 3x yellow cad (I assume 3 dips)??

@emac
@bb67tlc
@S4Cruiser

Thanks,

In my area (and likely most areas in the US) platers no longer do cad...it’s zinc, in whatever color flavor you want (clear, yellow, etc.).

All I asked was for yellow zinc, how much the cost was and what type of prep they expected. The business I used, did a hot degrease, then acid dip before the plating and coloring process.

In hindsight I would’ve prepped better. Some bolts came out looking like new and others not so much. I’d take the time and glass bead blast the bolt heads to remove paint, etc.

 

[Splangy]

Send them out to have them done. They’ll come out better, you’ll still have your sanity, and you won’t be exposed to harmful chemicals.

I’ve used the Caswell kit so much that I can’t even look at it anymore. It’s just too tedious. I send everything out now and will never go back.

 

[Aloha Jen]

I had considered setting up my own plating operation for my restoration, but in the end decided to leave it to the experts. As long as you can put things into a batch or two, I think it's best to let them do it. If you're going to just slowly work your way through different areas of the project, I say go for it. There's lots of info online about setting up something for not much money- one guy talked about using two D-cell batteries and pickle juice and old boat zincs (plus the yellow chromate fixer).
I sent my stuff (I sandblasted it first) to a place in Portland, Oregon (TFC Plating) and they did great work for very little money. Like $60 for a good sized box of stuff... just don't include anything aluminum, like the vacuum switch casing for the early Front Drive in the foreground of this picture. Looks good, but big mistake.

It's like Christmas when they come back!
View attachment 1887154

There is a place in Greensboro that I recently used. They focus on small lots. I got a 5 gallon bucket of hardware done - 100 bucs and turnaround was 7 days.

I may just be a bit anal when it comes to the details but The place in Nashville will do up to 125lbs for $55.00. They have told me they love to do my stuff because smaller clean batches get better quality control. I either Metal Restore, parts cleaner, wire wheel, and or blast then thread chasing all the hardware and brackets I want plated. I don't keep track of all of it only because I somehow remember nearly every bolt for every application. Don't ask me how. I've tried testing the rust resistance on their work and it has passed every time. I suspect it takes 20 hours at least to go through the entire process this way but it pays off every time. (At least I think so.)


Before/during/after
View attachment 1887788

Send them out to have them done. They’ll come out better, you’ll still have your sanity, and you won’t be exposed to harmful chemicals.

I’ve used the Caswell kit so much that I can’t even look at it anymore. It’s just too tedious. I send everything out now and will never go back.

For any of these plating companies you guys used, do you think they would accept a USPS box of mailed bolts/metal parts to be zinc plated? I haven’t come across any platers here in Hawaii that will do small batches, so thinking of some mainland options. Anyways, just curious if the shops you guys used are the kind of places that I could mail a box to, get plated, then they could mail back. Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[S4Cruiser]

For any of these plating companies you guys used, do you think they would accept a USPS box of mailed bolts/metal parts to be zinc plated? I haven’t come across any platers here in Hawaii that will do small batches, so thinking of some mainland options. Anyways, just curious if the shops you guys used are the kind of places that I could mail a box to, get plated, then they could mail back. Thanks for any suggestions.

The place I used in Greensboro might...quick phone call to ask would be simple enough. It's a small family run business and likely the person that answers the phone can answer your question without transferring you!

edit - there was a place in Cali that I called and got quote for the work which would've required mailing and they were fine with it...but ended up finding a local place. I can't recall the places name but can try and find it if needed.

 

[Rainman]

For any of these plating companies you guys used, do you think they would accept a USPS box of mailed bolts/metal parts to be zinc plated? I haven’t come across any platers here in Hawaii that will do small batches, so thinking of some mainland options. Anyways, just curious if the shops you guys used are the kind of places that I could mail a box to, get plated, then they could mail back. Thanks for any suggestions.

The one here, (much farther than CA) but then again how far is far? I know the guys here on a first name basis. Yes, my name helps. I'm sure they'd be fine with a shipment. They photograph everything laid out and compare it after the batch is done for accuracy making sure it's all there. Just remember, $55 for under 125lbs. Shipping would of course be what it is.

 

[Coolerman]

I will admit that $55.00 for <125 lbs is a SUPER bargain! I would have to plate > 500 lbs to equal what I will have in the Caswell setup!
But.... I can plate as I go with it which works perfectly for the way I work... SLOW!