Zinc plating

[Eddie Smith]

There are many kits on the market for various types of metal plating have any members used any of these to plate bolts nuts and small items on Greeves restorations. I have dozens of small items that are serviceable but will rust as soon as they are reused, we all know the cost of BSF, BSC nuts bolts etc so a plating kit could be the answer. I have restored Japanese bikes in the past and renewed all nuts and bolts etc as cost is so low its not worth the hassle but with British bike prices it could be a cost effective answer.

[Dogsbody]

I have used Gateros kits with good results. Which kit you go for depends on the finish required, zinc/nickel with a yellow passivate gives a passable cadmium effect, or bright nickel to replicate chrome. The amount of time in preparation certainly makes a difference, plating pitted steel just gives you a shiny pitted piece of steel. I have done brake arms, sets of spokes, brackets,nuts, bolts,washers- all those bits that cost only the odd pound or two but add up to enough to make it worth buying a kit.
You can plate a wheel spindle but either mask off the centre or just plate the ends or it won't pass through the bearings ( ask me how I know). Useful if something needs building up because it is worn though.

http://www.gaterosplating.co.uk/

Dogsbody

[Eddie Smith]

zinc plating

Thanks for your reply, a few questions you may be able to answer
1 -Whats the shelf life of the liquids when mixed
2- What was your source of current and how did you regulate it.
3- Is it necessary to use distilled water in the process.
4 - Did you use an agitator for the plating (air pump)
5 - You said you used a kit but most kits give a choice of finish, I just want the standard zinc finish - so is it worth buying just the chemicals you need to give that finish.
Thanks - Eddie

[Dogsbody]

Will try to answer your questions, Gateros are very good at giving advice.
1- kept covered it appears to keep without problems, you may have to filter it if it gets dirty
2- 12v battery with charger, regulator comes with kit. You need a voltmeter to check plating voltage so it isn't too quick
3- I originally used distilled water, but then used the water from a dehumidifier
4- yes, an air pump that I already had from fish keeping days
5- used a zinc kit first time, now use a zinc/nickel kit.
Once you buy a kit you can buy the consumables, zinc or nickel anodes, chemicals etc as you need them. Concrete cleaner (weak acid ) is cheap from B & Q for de-rusting if not too bad, can be done electrically if heavy rust.
Dogsbody

[Eddie Smith]

Zinc plating

Many thanks you have convinced me to give it a try I appreciate your advice - regards Eddie

[floydbassman]

Reading this with interest. Just looked on their website at the brush chroming kit and wondered if it would be good to restore dull chrome on an exhaust system, as chroming companies wont touch exhausts due to contamination problems

[John Wakefield]

I think the problem with chroming is the extra equipment needed ie polishing machine/mops, also the chemicals required are dangerous to use without proper protection. ie cyanide, not sure if its legal to buy/store this stuff other than for commercial use under strict H&S standards. Thing with chrome plating its the preparation work that is needed prior to the actual plating. Not just a case of dunking the parts in a plating tank like with zinc.

[Eddie Smith]

Zinc plating

I agree with John, I looked at chroming but because of the hazardous materials and processes involved I kicked it into touch, other types of plating are a possibility and that is why I am going forward in the New Year with a Zinc process. I have watched a lot of restoration projects and chroming to a high standard is very specialized, especially on pitted parts as the build up of copper plating to give a good finish is time consuming and expensive.

[IanCordes]

Are there not plating firms who would re-chrome your exhaust, providing you could show that you have cleaned it up like a new pin, with caustic soda etc? There objection must be to the deposits inside, and if they are thoroughly removed that should remove the objection....? I am interested in this myself, as I have an original exhaust which could do with re-chroming, although the rebuild is a long way from that stage yet.

[tony]

Exhaust chrome plating

I had a quote from Chromefix in June, which I have not sorted yet. Email content:

Dear Anthony

Thank you for your enquiry,

We can strip, polish and rechrome the silencers for £145 each

Turnaround is around 4-5 weeks at the moment, If you would like them urgently or sooner please give us a call.

* A lot more than Villiers services at £95.00 for new ones.

[IanCordes]

Fair point, Tony! It is often not economical, when volume-produced new items are available, to re-chrome.

However, mine is the shortened Villiers silencer, plus 2-piece downpipe which curls in front of the beam and up over the timing case on the 24TE, which I do not believe are available new. Cutting a chunk out of the middle of a new silencer messes up the chrome a bit!

I do have a brand new Villiers silencer intended for a 25DB/DC, still in it's box, which you could have for less that £95..... PM me if you are interested.

Ian

[John Wakefield]

However, mine is the shortened Villiers silencer, plus 2-piece downpipe which curls in front of the beam and up over the timing case on the 24TE, which I do not believe are available new.

Like this one? just sold for £50 on ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Greeves-Do...UAAOSw7FRWWuWZ

[IanCordes]

Kind of like that, John, but in 2 pieces, and, of course, going the other side, as the seller mentioned.

Exactly like this :-

[Brian Thompson]

Like this one.....

......don't know if these are still available, but if you're feeling brave.....

Scroll down to bottom of page on this link;

http://www.greevesmotorcyclesltd.com/exhausts.html

Brian.

[floydbassman]

I am going to give the brush plating a go in the new year. The exhaust I mentioned is not for my Greeves TFS but my other bike, a 78 Kawasaki Z650 which has a lot of exhaust system..
There is also another factor with plating which comes into play in 2017. There is new legislation banning the use of the old school processes and chemicals which apparently means that any future plating will not be the same as we know it quality wise. Hard chroming for engineering purposes will not be affected (yet).