Plating Question

[169indy]

Kevin, The plating looks great.

I have a question re the 69 camaro front park light housings. Can you describe the process of removing the socket and pigtail wire harness to allow zinc plating the metal housing. I would appreciate any advice.

Thanks,
Jim

[m22mike]

It was my plating, and the process is do not remove anything. The plating is a cold process and will not harm plastic ,rubber, wiring etc.
If you wish to keep plating off the outside of the copper lamp sockets you must mask with a liquid mask. My plater showed me the stuff they use in a gallon can, and I sure do not remember what it was.
But what I used that worked well was a aerosol ruberized tool handle spray I got at the Box Depot store. I think it is made by Dip It ????
Anyway mask the wire lead and housing, then spray 4 to 5 light coats and cure with a heat gun. Score the edge with a Exacto Knife and carefully remove the tape, now your ready to plate, and don't worry about the contacts inside the light socket,the light plating won't hurt anything.
I also did some rear license plate lights and front 69 Nova and 66 Chevelle turn lamps, they came out awsome
Mike

[mrrec]

I think a little summary is in order here as there appears to be some confusion in terminology and finishes.

Zinc plating can appear dull to shiny, rough to smooth - depends on the surface finish of the part AND plating time and current.

Cadmium plating (Cad) is applied OVER the Zinc base. There is YELLOW cad (most brake boosters) and WHITE cad (Zinc appearance). As mentioned, Cad is applied to increase durability of the Zinc. Polish the zinc plated part before cad and you'll have shiny cad. Bead blast or wire wheel and you'll have a more subdued cad. Etc.

You can finish the part to appear virtually the same with Zinc alone or with the addition of Cad. Plating time and current does affect finish as well. I do my own zinc plating and use "copycad" from Caswell. Some photos are on my website. Real Cadmium is nasty and is not something a home shop wants to mess with.......

Dave

[169indy]

[ QUOTE ]

Cadmium plating (Cad) is applied OVER the Zinc base. There is YELLOW cad (most brake boosters) and WHITE cad (Zinc appearance). As mentioned, Cad is applied to increase durability of the Zinc. Polish the zinc plated part before cad and you'll have shiny cad. Bead blast or wire wheel and you'll have a more subdued cad. Etc.


[/ QUOTE ]

Not many plater's apply Cad over zinc.

I think you are confusing the "YELLOW" Zinc (/or Cad).
Finish TYPE II (ASTM-B633)

Zinc plating with the yellow Tint is obtained via the conversion coating process by post plating treatment with (di)chromate acid. The length of time the item is immersed in the solution creates the color, in addition to the pre plate surface condition prior to plating as you stated. Think of the Yellow zinc (Cad) as a additional layer of protection from crossion and abrasion. (Example: The thick layer of skin on Pudding left in the fridge UNCOVERED!)
These additional treatments are intended to provide some corrosion protection or a better surface finish for additional coatings (Could be CAD?).

I had purchased a caswell set up and could only get smaller parts plated at home. I still prefer to send them out to vendors who are willing to run small batches of zinc.

I work near a plate shop for the NAVY.
To many fumes for TODAY!


Dave is Right Get your tanks set up soon!
Plate on!

Jim