This is not a
thing you can do with your kids, you have to figure where and how to do it. I am
working outside with safety glasses and rubber gloves.
You are
responsible for you own safety!!!
Before you start
carefully read the references:
This text
is a translation of a Danish usenet-news article I read, a while
ago.
From usenet newsgroup: dk.fritid.motorcykel,
Topic: Elektrogalvanisering på køkkenbordet,
Autor: Bent Erik Thomsen (bmt@poet.dk)
Date:2002-03-02 05:24:27 PST
The text
refers to the following web page:
http://www.finishing.com/faqs/howworks.html
I have
found that hints and knowledge can be found
at:
http://members.cox.net/oldies1955/electro/electro101.htm
and
http://www.classicsuzuki.com/teknik/renov-gt750L/zinc.html
Or
http://www.caswellplating.com/copycad.htm
Therefore
only about 80% of the following text is from the original
article:
The
purpose of this article is to be able to zinc plate (electroplating) some of the
more special and non replaceable parts from a motorcycle, of course it is also
much cheaper (CBMMA rules!!).
The basics for
this document is taken from http://www.finishing.com/faqs/howworks.html
The first
bath is for stripping the old zinc, and removing rust, and light
degreasing.
“You
may use either hydrochloric or MURATIC acid for this bath
(dansk
Saltsyre)
Make
Up
·
1 Gallon
of distilled water
·
Hydrochloric/MURATIC acid ------31.5 fluid
oz.
operating
conditions
Operating
Temp.----77-120 Deg. F.
****SAFETY
NOTE****
Carefully add the acid to the water. It may splatter so wear
your face shield, apron, and gloves.
Take care to not breathe the fumes created by this or any
other bath.
No air
agitation is required.
This bath
is used for removing rust, deplating, and surface etching copper and brass.
Watch the part when it is in the solution as it can progress very rapidly and
start to attack the base metal.”
http://members.cox.net/oldies1955/electro/pagebat.htm#HYDROCLORIC ACID BATH
“Fill
the container about half way with vinegar, but measure how much vinegar that is.
Put the zinc anode into vinegar and let it sit for several hours, allowing some
of it to dissolve. We'd like to shoot for 100 g/l of dissolved zinc, although
the vinegar probably will not support that much
dissolution.
Add 100
g/l of Epsom Salts
and 120 g/l of table
sugar.
http://www.finishing.com/faqs/howworks.html
I use Acetic
acid (35%) instead of plain vinegar.
The
source for zinc, you have to figure out on your own.
You will
need the following barths
First
acid bath, for removing the old dirty zinc, rust and
stuff.
First
water “bath”, to rinse of the acid when parts have been in the first aced
bath
Second
acid bath, for removing the last part of zinc, rust and stuff, but aloe to lave
the surface nice and clean.
Second
water “bath”, to rinse of the acid when parts have been in the second acid
bath.
Electroplating bath, with a (new?) zinc anode, connected to +
on the power source.
If you
put a iron bar over the electroplating bath and connected to – on the power
source, then you can hang the things for plating
it.
Third
water bath, for rinsing the part after the Electroplating
bath
You will
need 5 mA pr square cm, that needs to be processed.
That’s
around 1-1½ volts, but that depends on your
set-up.
There is a
description on how to use a 12 V battery and a bunch of light bulbs, in a CBMMA
setup on http://www.caswellplating.com/copycad.htm
1)
Remove rust / paint from all the
parts.
Clean the
small parts, with a rotating steelbrush, or your favourite tool for removing
rust on small parts. Remember if the part has a blank surface, then the result
will be just as blank. Electroplating will not cover any dents/scratches in the
surface.
2)
Dip in the first acid bath to remove the first
layer of zinc and dirt.
3)
Attach a iron or cobber wire to all
parts
4)
Rinse in water
bath
From now
DON’T TOUCH THE
PARTS
5)
Wash and
degrease
http://members.cox.net/oldies1955/electro/pagecleaner.htm
I use some HOT water (boiling) and the same soap as for my
dishwasher.
6)
Dip in tie second (clean) acid bath (To clean
and remove rust)
7)
Rinse in second water
bath
8)
Put
it in the plating bath and connect the wires.
Make sure that the part isn’t touching the zinc
anode.
9)
Leave
it in the bath for about one hour , and
make sure to move it some times to ensure that gas bubbles that get stuck to the
part, don’t make pits and bare spots.
10)take the parts from the bath and rince.
11)the finiched pard
is now light gray , and can be
polished or brushed to a nice shine.
12)remove the zinc anode, and rince. Put the liquids in bottles for safe storing. remember to write on the containers what in them.
Det er faktisk nemmere at udføre i virkeligheden end det er
at beskrive det
i dette indlæg.
Have fun… and take care