Stop in for a cup of coffee
I got involved in this Zinc Plating a couple of years ago for my personal use. As I was looking into the different plating processes I was seeing all of these nasty chemicals that they were using and the cost and hassle of getting those chemicals, not to mention the disposal of them when finished using.
Was looking for a simpler safer approach. As with anything the preparation is key. Hard to beat the old fashion way to clean steel with the vinegar dunk for 48 hours to remove fine rust and scale.
Then found the Electrolysis method with the 12 volt battery charger and Washing Soda/Distilled Water solution to conduct the electricity from the + to the -. Current flowing from your rusty part to the negative anodes carries the rust away.
That Muriatic Acid is some nasty stuff and you don't want to breath the vapors, would rather not use it cause it is too harsh.
So anyway however you can figure to get your parts down to the raw state, and get them clean. Electrolysis leaves them raw and they flash rust right away. I wire wheel them with a fine wire brush and they look like brand new, ready for plating. Ultrasonic Cleaners are good for prep work too, with the different cleaning solutions, surprising pine sol and distilled water works well. Pine sol will turn aluminum black, got to be careful there.
So then the Zinc Plating solution needs to be made up 24 hours in advance so that the zinc is suspended in the solution. Have to see if I can come up with that recipe again for the solution, been a couple years. But it is something like Vinegar, Clear Caro Syrup, Distilled Water, and one or 2 other safe materials like a salt or soda. Have to do some digging for that info.
The zinc solution can be used over and over again, and you just keep adding more sacrificial zinc as it gets consumed over time. Just keep a lid on it for safe storage.
The zinc plating process is just the opposite of the Electrolysis for rust removal flowing the the current the other way. Actually moving the Zinc from the Anodes through the solution and on to your newly plated parts. Kind of looks like it has been finely blasted on to your part, then a fine polish with fine steel wool or a fine wire wheel will shine it up.
Here is a little 1,2,3 steps on a piece of 1 1/2" mild steel pipe, and some before and after pics of some exhaust clamps that Electrolysis removed the rust and then zinc plated.
Clean the pipe down to Raw, this was sanded by hand.
Zinc plating solution ready to go with 12 volt charger set on trickle, want like 3 volts.
Transferring the zinc to the pipe.
Raw Zinc Plating, kind of interesting how it plates in line of sight. So if you have odd shapes have to keep repositioning for coverage.
Polish it Up
Kind of Fun, the Karo Syrup in the solution is supposed to help bring out a shine on the finished plating.
Store the 2 quarts of zinc solution in a good sealed plastic container for future use, don't have to throw it out.
Pretty safe way to go about it without polluting the environment.
The rolls of zinc you can buy at your local home builder store in the roofing section.
It's fun doing your own stuff and being creative about it . . .
I got involved in this Zinc Plating a couple of years ago for my personal use. As I was looking into the different plating processes I was seeing all of these nasty chemicals that they were using and the cost and hassle of getting those chemicals, not to mention the disposal of them when finished using.
Was looking for a simpler safer approach. As with anything the preparation is key. Hard to beat the old fashion way to clean steel with the vinegar dunk for 48 hours to remove fine rust and scale.
Then found the Electrolysis method with the 12 volt battery charger and Washing Soda/Distilled Water solution to conduct the electricity from the + to the -. Current flowing from your rusty part to the negative anodes carries the rust away.
That Muriatic Acid is some nasty stuff and you don't want to breath the vapors, would rather not use it cause it is too harsh.
So anyway however you can figure to get your parts down to the raw state, and get them clean. Electrolysis leaves them raw and they flash rust right away. I wire wheel them with a fine wire brush and they look like brand new, ready for plating. Ultrasonic Cleaners are good for prep work too, with the different cleaning solutions, surprising pine sol and distilled water works well. Pine sol will turn aluminum black, got to be careful there.
So then the Zinc Plating solution needs to be made up 24 hours in advance so that the zinc is suspended in the solution. Have to see if I can come up with that recipe again for the solution, been a couple years. But it is something like Vinegar, Clear Caro Syrup, Distilled Water, and one or 2 other safe materials like a salt or soda. Have to do some digging for that info.
The zinc solution can be used over and over again, and you just keep adding more sacrificial zinc as it gets consumed over time. Just keep a lid on it for safe storage.
The zinc plating process is just the opposite of the Electrolysis for rust removal flowing the the current the other way. Actually moving the Zinc from the Anodes through the solution and on to your newly plated parts. Kind of looks like it has been finely blasted on to your part, then a fine polish with fine steel wool or a fine wire wheel will shine it up.
Here is a little 1,2,3 steps on a piece of 1 1/2" mild steel pipe, and some before and after pics of some exhaust clamps that Electrolysis removed the rust and then zinc plated.
Clean the pipe down to Raw, this was sanded by hand.
Zinc plating solution ready to go with 12 volt charger set on trickle, want like 3 volts.
Transferring the zinc to the pipe.
Raw Zinc Plating, kind of interesting how it plates in line of sight. So if you have odd shapes have to keep repositioning for coverage.
Polish it Up
Kind of Fun, the Karo Syrup in the solution is supposed to help bring out a shine on the finished plating.
Store the 2 quarts of zinc solution in a good sealed plastic container for future use, don't have to throw it out.
Pretty safe way to go about it without polluting the environment.
The rolls of zinc you can buy at your local home builder store in the roofing section.
It's fun doing your own stuff and being creative about it . . .