Zinc coating - has anyone done it

[chris-red]

After reading an Article on Practicle Sportsbikes I am considering getting one of these
https://www.gaterosplating.co.uk/Zinc-Plating-kit.php

Anyone have experience with this stuff before?
____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[Kickstart]

Hi

I have a nickel plating kit, but not got round to using it yet. More from wanting to be fully sorted to store the liquids before use (they are not cheap, and no mixing them up if I can't store them).

Really should give it a try some time.

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[chris-red]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Nickel plating should give a brighter finish. Similar to chrome if properly prepared. Not sure with zinc, but would expect a rougher finish, which is probably more in line with the factory finish.

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[nowhere.elysium]

For the terminally lazy/tight, you can buy spray cans of Zinc. The finish is obviously nowhere near as tough, though.
____________________
'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[flat spot]

Why bother? Just look for an industrial place who do a shed load for next to nowt.

[Teflon-Mike]

I was looking at variouse plating kits; 'Copy Chrome' is the most like real chrome, which for reasons I cant remember is rather impracticle for home electroplating kits, hence Nickel Plating has been more common for much longer. Nickel gives 'chrome like' finish when polished, but tarnishes more easily. The Copy-Chrome seem to be a harder Nickel Chrome alloy, 'more' like chrome, but as easy to plate as nickel. To get good finish, though, most have to be plated over copper plate. Some kits contain solutions to pre-plate with copper.
Zinc plating is galvanizd bucket finish. great rust prevntion, but as asthtically pleasing as a galvanised dustbin!
Coating in Zinc, you get a 'self haling' skin over the metal, that acts as a sactrificial cathode; so the zinc 'rusts' instead of the metal, with bonus that if the zinc is scratched, the 'galvanic cell' st up when th scratch gets wet, sees the zinc oxidise rather than the steel bneath, and, within crtain limits of plating thicknss to scratch width, 'self heal' forming a scab over the wound.

So, Copy Chrome / Nickel for decorative 'bits, Zinc for stuff that you dont see, and want to keep rust free.
____________________
My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[Bru]

Funnily enough, I was on that website today. There is a passivate coat which goes with the kit; it covers the zinc to prevent white oxide formation. Basically, it will do the job. Better than painting.

I last used a similar kit from Caswell Europe, which was also expensive, but did a good job of copy-chrome on some small parts.

The Gateros kit reads like a lot of work, but I have seen others' results, and in the long-term, it may be worth it. Decide for yourself which is cheaper in the short-term, with regard to DIY or 'professional' service.

[chris-red]

Right I got the kit and have put a few bits through it, I am fairly impressed, although it was a bit hit and miss, doing lots of items at once didn't work too well, however one off items came out reasonable well. The kit is easy to set up and use just read thought the instructions a few times before starting.

I think I was also let done buy the quality of my prep work.


Things you will need other than what is included.
5l of distilled water.
Wire brush/drill.
Degreased/brake cleaner.
More copper wire.

Didn't really take any pictures I will do a write up at some point with pics.
____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[chris-red]

https://www.gaterosplating.co.uk/images/efb0_1.jpghttps://www.gaterosplating.co.uk/images/eebd_1.jpg


This is from the website and is very similar to the results I got, wire wheel them then degrease and drop in the tank.
____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[chris-red]

Here is the set up.



https://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/309379_10150757551470422_698975421_20153786_1539034_n.jpg
____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[Frost]

Timon has a butt load of stuff shot blasted and zinc plated in his VFR400 thread in the workshop section. It all came out lovely, though i expect the shot blasting made a massive difference!