Stop in for a cup of coffee

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Tooljunkie said:
Working on my 3rd mower. Pto driven. And of course,tractor springs a coolant leak:BangHead:
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I think its dry enough out there now. I should get off here and go sit in the seat of my #1 mower. Maybe even turn it on and get it moving around my back yard....
 
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It's Café du Magnum Monday! Goooood morning!
 
zkx14 said:
Key word 'hobby' I suspect as soon as you do it for profit the environmental po-po will be at your door. 'We're from the government. We're here to help" :BangHead::rofl:
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The po-po will be there to poo-poo on you....

Wow, that answer has so many p's and o's... Oops....
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toolmanmike said:
Who will you have do the plating? It looks like a fun hobby to get into. LOL
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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.

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Clean the pipe down to Raw, this was sanded by hand.
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Zinc plating solution ready to go with 12 volt charger set on trickle, want like 3 volts.
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Transferring the zinc to the pipe.
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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.
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Polish it Up
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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 . . .
 
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Mopar Tim said:
My old 64 Sport fury with a 426 Wedge got 21 MPG Highway. Those old cars were on bad on gas, as long as you were not racing them.
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My dad had a 62 Sport Fury convertible when he was in college... :steering:

He special ordered it with a 361 and then shortly after he got it, they offered the 383.... :BangHead:
 
Mopar Tim said:
My old 64 Sport fury with a 426 Wedge got 21 MPG Highway. Those old cars were on bad on gas, as long as you were not racing them.
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My '72 F100 390 2v got 16, didn't matter if it was loaded or empty. My '13 5.7 RAM pretty much the same. And they say we're getting SO fuel efficient :rofl:. The RAM will do 21 on long flat roads across Az @ the posted 75 speed limit :rolleyes:
 
Unconventional said:
My '72 F100 390 2v got 16, didn't matter if it was loaded or empty. My '13 5.7 RAM pretty much the same. And they say we're getting SO fuel efficient :rofl:. The RAM will do 21 on long flat roads across Az @ the posted 75 speed limit :rolleyes:
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Pick up trucks have gone the direction of more power, damn the fuel mileage .
 
You guys see this? Seems VW was not alone.
Here's how Ram and Jeep owners can collect FCA diesel settlement
“The settlements contain no findings of wrongdoing, nor admission of any wrongdoing, by FCA,” the automaker said in a statement. “The updated software does not affect average fuel economy, drivability, durability, engine noise, vibration, or other driving characteristics of the vehicles.”
Then why do it???
 
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