Author Topic: Home Plating Kit for Zinc, Cadmium  (Read 620 times)

Offline the_engineers

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 2639
  • Cheap, fast, reliable...pick 2
Home Plating Kit for Zinc, Cadmium
« on: September 28, 2009 - 10:37:13 AM »
Has anyone used an at-home plating kit such as this:
http://caswellplating.com/kits/zinc.htm

Thoughts on how easy, tricks, tips, etc??
Brooks

1971 'Cuda 360
2004 Infiniti G35 6-spd Coupe
2001 Toyota Solara Convertible
2002 GMC Savana 1500 Explorer Hightop Conversion
1972 Dodge Dart Swinger...keeping the Slant.  Rocking the turbos.




Offline FJ5_440

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 879
  • Wisconsin
Re: Home Plating Kit for Zinc, Cadmium
« Reply #1 on: September 28, 2009 - 11:12:34 AM »
I have used that pretty extensively when I am doing original fasteners and small brackets.  It takes a little finesse to make the parts come out looking like new.  A bead blaster will be a big plus, as the parts you want to plate have to be insanely clean to achieve a nice finish.  I use a model train transformer instead of the battery that came with my kit and tend to overplate slightly then gently brush the parts with a brass wire brush to get the finish to appear as bright zinc. It isn't quite as nice as the parts I actually have cad plated, but it itsn't far off and is much much cheaper.  If you are having a car judged, it will get you many fewer deductions than a can of the zinc spray paint.  The corrosion resistance is probably only as good as the original plating, but I don't usually go through the hassle of replating original fasteners on a car I plan to drive through puddles.
** Shane **