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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ต.ค. 2024
- This is my first try at build your own zinc plating kit. end results turned out ok but i still have to try and figure out how to get the chrome appearance right out of the plating solution.
DIY Zinc Plating
Three 5 litre containers $9.00 each Canadian tire
One 14 litre container $7.19 Canadian tire
4 litres muriatic acid $12.00 Hardware store
4 litres epsom salts $10.00 Grocery store
8 litres of vinegar $7.00 Grocery store
Bag of white sugar $10 Grocery store
Zinc coil $37.00 for canadianswww.amazon.ca/...
Copper pipe $10.00 Hardware store
Copper wire $10.00 Hardware store
Alligator clips $2.00 Hardware store
Regulated power supply $63.00 for canadians www.amazon.ca/...
Scotchbright disk for canadians $5.90 www.globalindu...
The plating solution recipe (which you can scale up or down as you like):
1 liter of vinegar (5%)
100 grams Epsom Salt
120 grams sugar
I've only plated nickel, copper and zinc on a few things, but not an expert at all. My experience is that nickel only barely plates at 3v, more like 5 or 6 to get a thick coating, and you need to drive the current up well beyond the bubbles forming to get a nice Shiney result. Undercurrent is the main enemy with larger parts, I'd say like an amp per square inch or something. It adds up. A bit low gives me the darker, murkier results, which clean up with steel wool to a high shine if it's not too bad. Deep undercurrent results in a thin, dirty coating that doesn't last. Another thing to mention is that as the solution gets dirtier from many different parts, it seems to take more current to keep other metals from getting in the plating.
Thankyou. i am going to try again soon. Someone also mentioned my alligator clip wires are probably way to small as well. I am thinking the zinc i am using might also have contributed to my failure.
@@TNTMOTO no prob. I was struggling a lot at first. took a lot of tries to get it right. You might have better luck with D batteries, suprisingly high current draw for short time, easily 10 amps. I also noticed that in my solutions, it's best to cut the "dead-time" out completely, dunk the part with the voltage applied and pull it out before disconnecting. No idea why, but it comes out shinier. Good luck, I've done a fair bit of fussing and cussing over it😂
Awsome! Few years ago I was trying this out on my own.. REVERSE POLARITY got me a couple times too. LOL. It makes the parts to plate turn black as oxides form on them. I think it means ya have to clean them again to get them ready to plate. Maybe those goofs mean we have to also bake out the hydrogen before plating and after too. I'm currently trying to fix this same senario. My first tries had some hickups.. Back then I had found out about bath temp control as a beneficial but not required control. Uh what temp is best??? I lost track of my notes so I'm guess I'm not a true chemist. I didn't use vinegar.. or epsom salt. For the bath I used muriatic acid and distilled water not sure of ratio but 20 to 50percent muriatic acid and 80 to 50percent dist H2o. My first tries at making the bath solution failed. It is tricky. First add the water then the donor zinc (make sure it's oil free and sanded or wire wheeled clean and is pure zinc) then a small bit of muriatic acid. Now the bubbles will show coming off as the acid dissolves the zinc and heat will be released from this reaction so plan ahead for keeping it all cool. If it gets too hot the zinc burns or turns dark colors.. (too hot = not ideal and seems to ruin or contaminate the bath solution) less acid that is added = less heat. However less acid means the process time to prepare the solution takes longer. I use an oven-safe glass container for this step because plastic could melt if heat gets away. And I set the glass in another much larger pan and add some water to the larger pan to serve as a simple heat-sink. Once the bubbling stops I check to see if zinc is gone if it is add more zinc, if not, add more acid... And repeat again and again until... I have at least a 20 percent acid to 80percent H2o ratio. If this results in a fast plating / high current draw recipe as I test it for plating I'm done pleased, If too slow and doesn't take current I add more zinc and acid. To help with flattening finish I heard sugar too so I added a smidge at the end for one of my earliest tries. Test how much current flows (continuity of the solution) before and after the sugar is added. Too much sugar will cause the current to change I heard..?? I wish to try window cleaner aka windex in place of sugar.. heard that works. In one try I added aluminum (3-4 rods from 1/8th inch pop-rivets) into the solution instead of sugar and finally tried a "warm bath" temp I don't recall.. -instead of 50-70 Far that most earlier tries had been.. that time I had better results. Can't remember what aluminum was meant to do though. My experiments are allover the place "controls wise".
Thanks for the comment. I will probably be trying this all over again in the near future. hopefully it works this time. I will try your technique of dissolving the zinc this time.
@@TNTMOTO Trying again is always a step towards success. I wish you success. I just realized I should have mentioned.. the reverse polarity seems to ruin the electrolite/ bath solutions that I made. In only a few minutes even.. I typically had only a quart or less bath solution volume and a couple bolts (under 4sq inches area recieving plating). I read that it's also a mistake to put the parts into the bath without having current applied to them. So a poor connection anywhere from part to power supply to donor zinc is a recipe for failure and ruining bath solution. The only explanation I've gotten for this is that the steel, iron, etc is rapidly taken into the bath solution during reverse polarity and moderately during a power interruption/bad connection. The remedy I read is.. "The iron in the bath solution can somehow be removed using hydrogenperoxide to oxidize it and then a filtration can trap/collect said iron oxides." I probably will not try to remove iron or purify my messed up bath solutions.. Sounds beyond me.
So I have just resorted to making a new batch of bath solution after a "reverse polarity event".
As a teen I got to enjoy a trail/ street style 70's Taka with a Bridgstone 100cc rotary valve. I miss that bike. Family went through a lot of bikes over the years... good memories
@@craftsmanbyheart i can get a Caswell kit here for $400. might just have to do it.
that was cool great video...
Great video and thanks for sharing. After submerging the work piece in Muriatic Acid , the next step should be a mixture of water and baking soda to neutralize the acid on the work piece then rinse in pure water. Otherwise the acid will shorten the lifespan of what ever coating you are using.
Chrome needs a very shiney surface to start off with, and it will come from the tank dull, until you buff it. For your first attempt, this is pretty good. I used to tumble nuts and bolts in 25kg tubs to zinc plate, but you can get a much better finish by taking care in the preparation stage and plating individually. 👍
So recently i tried again doing just as you described. I still got the dull finish and was required to use a fine steel wool to shine it up. i then buffed them with a polish. I looked into the Caswell kit and i have figured out why theirs come out looking like chrome. In the i will have to buy the Caswell kit as i need to plate faster. Last round of bolts took me two weeks to plate and polish.
So why from the caswell plating kit come out like chrome?please tel me..
I am using the "classic zinc plating kit " from uk and I cant have a shiny fat shiny result...my plate comes out thin and needs a little bit of polish to look good.
@@maikman they use a special chemical compound
Fak:( so I bought shity kit..
@@maikman Not a shitty kit, just not going to get that bright appearance without a special chemical. most people use the caswell kit to get that chrome appearance
Great video thank you sir. Plating process start at 2:06 for everyone else. Thank you God bless.
very informative video, you defiantly deserve a sub! im restoring a 1991 gsxr 400 motorbike. Finding new old stock or replacement fasteners is impossible so going to try replanting as much as i can. giving your electrolyte recipe ago now on some test pieces. Have you made any improvements to your process since making this video?
I actually purchased Caswell plating kit. All the parts come out perfect. Well worth the money
I think the sandblasting made the softer parts stay grey, because the sand took away more material than on the harder ones (so the surface isnt that smothe as on the hard ones). Maybe try to buff them with the wire wheel befor plating, so you dont have to "damage" the coting afterwards.
Keep it up, i am excited for this one.
Greetings from germany
I smoothed them with a wire wheel prior to plating. I am going to try heating my bath next. Thanks for watching.
I have the same DC rectifier as you, what was your final amperage for the best finish? Thanks.
I turn the voltage to max and then slowly turned up the amptill bubbles started to come off the part. I have since moved on to a Caswell kit to achieve the finished polished look right out of the solution
Have you figured out the reason for a dull finish? I am having the same issue and it happens with both the homemade electrolyte solution and the Caswell electrolyte kit I purchased.
no but i suspect it needs heat
Great video, I've done some plating myself, and the tips about buffing with the scotchbrite pad will make things much better. I'm working on plating mounting brackets for a Honda CBX1000
This was a learning process for me. The buffing works on think plating but if it plated thin the buff will remove the plate. I am still trying to figure out why i can get a shiny plate. i am thinking it is the solution temp
Use Zinc plating brightener. It takes care of the grey, dull....
Yes i think i am just going to buy a proper kit.
Nice job, looks great for your first attempt 🖒
If you had a vibatory polishing stone Tumbler they would have a great shine. Cool video thanks for the new ideas I will be using them in the future
i think i am going to buy a tumbler or build one. thanks for the suggestion.
so, does the sugar make it possible to polish a shine on the part afterwards or does the part come out shiny straight from the plating tank . I have tried with and without sugar both came out dull, however both seemed to polish up with very fine wire wool although i may not have enough sugar in the solution. Great video.
Hi there. Great video. Really enjoyed it. I was wondering where you get those buffer wheels from. I’ve been trying to find them but all we can ge5 here in the Uk is a rectangular pad. I would like to get the round wheel type ones that you have state side. I think they are called scotch bright.
Anyway, loved the vid. Well done
Philip. SPblasting
www.globalindustrial.com/p/tools/abrasives/depressed-center-wheels/3m-s-b-8x1-2-avfn048011-00672
I have seen some those styles on floor polishers big and smalls 10inch roughly the smallest (pun intend).
Thats pretty cool! It saves tons of money for your work instead of purchasing new bolts, plus they are oem honda goodies. Bravo for keeping it original!🤠
Nice job! Plating is an art.
everything was cool in my opinion till those stupid alligator clips . They wont carry 5 amp of 30v ....
Thanks for making the video - Probably you know by now but for viewers that type of power supply (digital) wants to boot up first on its own without any loads connected. Once it has run through its start up logic it will try to adapt to the applied load at the settings you are asking it for on the controls - but if you turn it on with a load already applied it could interfere with its boot up. It should be mentioned in the manual.
Thanks I did not know this. Thus was a learning process for me
Why zinc ?
Why not nickel ?
It seems to be what most people were plating dirt bike parts in.
I see you turn the negative and positive to the correct way later on in video
Hi. I've done it as you described the process....but...is it possible that there is also copper on the parts. The electrolyte turns more and more redd/yellow. I there anything i so wrong ?
I dont know, this was a learning process for me as well.
Great video and great job figuring your setup out. Done a lot of plating - interested in what rusting tests would be on the polished parts, especially those polished with steel wool.
i will plate something i have lying around, polish it with the steal wool then leave it out for a long time to see what happens
did not work. parts rusted.if it comes out grey i dont think it coated right. pretty sure i needed heat in my solution. going to invest in a caswell kit and see how that goes.
Can we electroplate copper on a zinc alloy keychain?
I am not knowledgeable in this field. this video was a learning process for me as well, it was not meant to be a teaching aide for others. But yes you should be able to plate copper onto a keychain
@@TNTMOTO Thank you, appreciate your help.
Yes, but u need an alcaline solution - not vinegar with ph 3 or so...
great brother u try the best.from india god bless u
killer vid bro im so going to copy your method,, vancover island b,c,,,
This was a learning process for me and it did not work correctly like it should have. but the concept is correct. first get a way to warm your liquid. get better alligator clips . and better zinc diodes like for use on boat motors. everything should be good then and you will get the nice shiny look that everyone is looking for.
Great tutorial, thanks. Do you see any plating of the zn before you connected the power since zn can normally displace copper? (Go search zinc Christmas trees for cool videos.)
Thanks. Isn't the sugar there to provide a bright finish? If it didn't do so, maybe leave it out of the electrolyte.
yes it is their for brightener.
Great tutorial Vajayo! Had all the info and mistakes you need to know for a first timer! Doing my first electrolysis rust removal right now, this may be how I finish. The polishing info made this a complete soup to nuts Tutorial. Great Job!!!!!!
My first time turned out great, if I get a chance I will have pics put up. OMG it is amazing how well it worked. I had stuff soaking for a year in Ed's Red. A few days in the tank and rusted ratchets that we seized work like new! Thank you for a great Vajayo!
There's nothing in the description
oops sorry. went out for dinner
putting it in now
How is nobody confused!? You say hook up the negetive to the anode but text below the opposite. And the same for the positive. But you look and you wire it exactly as you say not as you text; and you supposedly get amazing results. Can you please clarify.
Positive goes to the anode. This was my first try using regular materials you can buy from the grocery, and hardware store. It was not a success. the zinc came out dull colored i think do to no heat or poor zinc anodes. This video was not meant to teach people, it was simply to show my learning process. I will try again this year and see if i can make it a success .
TNT MOTO Thanks. I appreciate the feedback. But your video was a great help actually.
@@kirtroguestar471 I am going to try it again soon as i have another bike i need to do some bolts on.
I am making threaded stud bolts and stay bows...i would like to protect them from rusting ...i am trying to understand your system....i make them for resell
This was a learning process for me, this video was not meant to teach others. You might be better off to buy a caswell plating kit which should guarantee good results.
@@TNTMOTO i am building my own diy electroplating kit ...can i replace epsom salt with iodised coarse for the solution in zinc plating ...i am mixing vinegar with salt and a little sugar
@@ignitiusmwale7069 I wish I could help. Thia was a learning process for me as well. I was using someone else's recipe. In the end it did not work out as planned. I am not sure if it was my zinc or that I dis not heat the solution. I plan to try again in a month.
Hye sir. What acid you used may i know
It was vinegar and Epsom salts
should u put d negative terminal on the piece u want to plate?
Yes.
This is a 5min video with 19min bonus footage of the words "uhm," and "uuuuuh"
Well it it was a learning video for me as the description says.
I'm just bussin ya chops man. Great video.
Great video ! how much zinc did you
dissolve for let say 1gallon ?
I am not sure. It was quite some time ago.
@@TNTMOTO OK !
What is the purpose of the epsom salt and sugar in the vinegar?
The Epsom salt makes the solution conductive and the sugar promotes a shiny finish
Is zinc plating and galvanizing the same thing?
No
Positive to the copper pipe? OOPS!
yup. i made a few mistakes for sure. by the end was all good but i never got the shiny finish you get from a caswell kit.
Is 2v the optimal voltage?
What amp and voltage for small bolts did you use
I cant remember. I will have to get back to you.
@@TNTMOTO cheers when adjusting the voltage on your power supply does it change the amps at the same time ? Mine does so I think its faulty because I can't get it to the setting I would want
@@jamesrickwood6333 it adjusts it at the same time
I'm confused between Zinc Plating vs Nickel Plating. Which is best?
I dont think you can color nickel.
@@TNTMOTOSo the main difference is not being able to colour it? Which would be the best to get a nice bright finish? I make furniture and lamps and things. I've always used aluminium or stainless. I'm wondering what other options I have.
@@LEO-xo9cz I am sorry I dont know. This video was actually about me learning how to do this. In the end it did not work out the way it should.
@@TNTMOTO Any idea what you might have done wrong? I only started looking into this a few days ago.
It's very interesting.
@@LEO-xo9cz I am thinking I needed to heat the solution and i needed thicker pieces of anode lower voltage.
There is a brightener chemical as part of process
That was the sugar. I have ordered new zinc and I will be trying this all over again soon.
@@TNTMOTO i'm excited to wait your results😃
@@victimovtalent6036 yes hopefully it turns out this time
Is there a time where you get the shiny appearance during plating and then it goes grey over time?
i dont think so but i am pretty sure i need to heat my solution because it is not working as i had hoped.
Maybe try remaking the zinc solution after a while? It will deplete and change the timing dramatically. Heat can help but concentration helps the most. Keep the electrode areas as large as possible and as close to the plating objects as possible. Did a lot of plating in the past commercially. Have you thought about doing your own anodization? Love the vids.
@@BobDingleful I am going to get larger anodes. Yes I would anodized but those are serious chems to have in my back yard in a townhouse complex
@@TNTMOTO You just need tartaric acid and dye. Would be similar to plating equipment-wise.
@@BobDingleful thought you had to use battery acid?
I love it great job bro
thx, in the end it was not perfect, i will try try again this year to get that chrome like finish
@@TNTMOTO i think you need a brightener and leveler.
@@coatingsplatingsjas1powder557 I am going to see about getting a caswell kit. But it is very expensive here at $450 so I thought I would try this diy kit
Tedious, there are far better submissions on zinc plating
This was not meant to be a teaching aid. In the end it was a failure. It is supposed to be me learning cheap diy plating
Why the sugar? That's the first I heard of adding sugar to your electrolyte.
its supposed to be the brightener. This is not my recipe. I am using something i found online.