|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
11-10-2021, 02:37 AM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Left Coast
Posts: 210
|
Home plating kits
Anyone familiar with currently available home plating kits (chrome, nickel, copper, zinc, blueing, etc) please chime in.
What is your preferred brand? Why? |
11-10-2021, 07:32 AM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: South East Wisconsin
Posts: 1,279
|
Re: Home plating kits
https://caswellplating.com
I've never tried my own electroplating, but my neighbor has and was happy with the results from Caswell. |
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
11-10-2021, 07:39 AM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Signal Mtn, TN (SE TN)
Posts: 2,360
|
Re: Home plating kits
I’ve “heard” from buddies that they are decent for copper and cadmium. Nothing further on chrome and nickel
|
11-10-2021, 09:21 AM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 1,099
|
Re: Home plating kits
Any one heard of dipping small parts in molten aluminum foil?
John |
11-10-2021, 09:33 AM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Eastern Tennessee
Posts: 11,486
|
Re: Home plating kits
The Caswell stuff from my experiences work fairly well on the Cadmium stuff however the time you spend to do it is WAY more than the expense that you can have it professionally done. Cadmium plating done commercially is not expensive.
Flash plating items in Nickel is met with mediocre results using Caswell methods. The prep work (-which has nothing to do with the Caswell offerings) is what makes or breaks the quality of the job. What I have learned is, I can strip the part of the previous plating, do the prep work (buffing, sanding copper, etc.) and then take the 'ready to be dipped' piece(s) to my local plater for them to actually plate and get a MUCH superior job than what I was getting from Caswell kits, and not spend much money for the plating. It is the prep work before dipping that causes the price to be expensive. Caswell offers good chemicals for Raven finishing hardware. |
11-10-2021, 11:05 AM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Left Coast
Posts: 210
|
Re: Home plating kits
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Any rival companies worth a look? |
11-10-2021, 11:14 AM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Red Deer, Alberta
Posts: 5,011
|
Re: Home plating kits
FWIW, to do chrome or nickle plating, the object has to be copper plated first.
__________________
If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn! Last edited by katy; 11-10-2021 at 11:15 AM. Reason: Addition |
11-10-2021, 11:31 AM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Left Coast
Posts: 210
|
Re: Home plating kits
|
11-10-2021, 11:42 AM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Shawnee, Ok
Posts: 3,471
|
Re: Home plating kits
Being a electroplater for over twenty years I can say stylus plating works great.
I have plated chrome, nickel, gold, silver, cobalt, copper, and a host of other metals, both for cars, motorcycles, farm equipment and space/aircraft. (You should see some of my gold plated coins and other items) I have traveled to every part of the Country repairing aircraft for the DOD using this method, hell, I even used it on the Shuttle...when it was flying. I have the portable equipment, I just don't have the chemicals anymore (retired) Should I sell my plating equipment? So to answer your question...look into stylus plating
__________________
Keith Shawnee OK '31 SW 160-B |
11-10-2021, 12:50 PM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 212
|
Re: Home plating kits
Yes, Nickel and chrome and many others can be plated directly on various metals. Copper is used under these as a way to smooth out pits and other imperfections. The copper is plated because it is a soft metal then buffed smooth. The nickel and chrome is plated over the copper. Think of the copper as Bondo for plating.
|
11-11-2021, 07:11 AM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Western North Carolina
Posts: 3,820
|
Re: Home plating kits
Please be careful with the chemicals. Most are very toxic and/or corrosive.
__________________
A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past. |
11-11-2021, 01:56 PM | #12 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Signal Mtn, TN (SE TN)
Posts: 2,360
|
Re: Home plating kits
Most chrome directly over steel that I’ve seen peels in a short period.
And rusts quickly |
11-11-2021, 03:17 PM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Washington Cty., ME or Flagler Cty., FL
Posts: 1,106
|
Re: Home plating kits
I know I will be criticized for this suggestion but here goes. Take a look at Rust-Oleum Metallic as an alternative to Cadmium Plating. It is called #7277830 Metallic Matte Nickel. From two feet away, it looks pretty good for small parts. Ed
|
11-11-2021, 05:42 PM | #14 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Left Coast
Posts: 210
|
Re: Home plating kits
Eastwood also has/had a copycad product which was a paint as well for cad and zinc. There’s room for everyone Ed, although I personally prefer the real thing.
|
11-11-2021, 09:37 PM | #15 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Shawnee, Ok
Posts: 3,471
|
Re: Home plating kits
Small parts? I've used that on bumpers, looks good and touches up easily, you work with what you have
__________________
Keith Shawnee OK '31 SW 160-B |
11-12-2021, 12:23 AM | #16 | |
Senior Member
|
Re: Home plating kits
Quote:
David Serrano |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|