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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Home diy zinc plating

Plating Process
The prepared brackets were then dipped in a dilute acid bath for about minute to remove any flash rust that formed after cleaning, then dipped in rinse water and quickly placed in the plating tank. I used a dilute solution of PPG 579 metal cleaner for the acid dip. Use clean nitrile gloves when handling the parts for your protection and to ensure that the parts remain completely clean. I plated a bracket for 10 minutes at the calculated current of 80 ma/square inch and removed for inspection. I found a few tiny black dots where the surface did not plate properly. This was likely caused by rust pits to small to be seen that I thought I had polished out. I used a new clean fine abrasive pad to lightly buff the parts, briefly dipped in the acid bath, then rinse.


https://www.gomog.com/allmorgan/ZincPlatingAtHome.html








anamnesis

Good Fun!

I Zinc plated the adjustable exhaust bracket that I made. As folk advised against using a car battery, I used the transformer for my old electric train set so the current was very low and it took ages to get a decent coating.

I used zinc anodes intended for a boat and it was only after they'd been in use for a while that I realised they had a steel core which probably didn't help matters.

Nearly two years on and there was no rust on the main bracket the last time I looked.

Colin


C Mee

Interesting although for anything out of sight I must admit I'd normally paint.
Bill Bretherton

Slightly off piste but still related, has anyone had experience of the new techique of spraying silver onto to bumpers etc. instead of chrome plating. From the videos I have seen the finish looks exactly like chrome but you can prepare the under surface with filler just like bodywork repairs.

Jan T
J Targosz

Saw it on car sos, xjs, the other day. Looks great, but is it durable?

Silver nitrate, with a clear coat on top.


Done in Basildon Essex by these people.

http://www.chromespray.co.uk/


anamnesis

I've seen bumpers down with chrome effect wrap and it looked really effective. Questionable how long it would last before the odd scff or abrasion. But then you just redo it!
GuyW

Hi Guy,

I had the bumpers for my TF replated and stored them under the bed in our spare room for about a year. When I came to fit them on the car they were spotted with rust. I suspect that with a good two pack primer and silver nitrate or wrapping these bumpers would last longer than modern chrome plating - especially on repro Chinese ones.

Cheers

Jan T

p.s. no wise cracks about dampness under the bed please!
J Targosz

Back in the early 1990s I was working near Milton Keynes and the company accountant had a Cobra replica and he had plating done at a couple of places, one a nice looking commercial shop and a hells angels place where he said he wondered if he'd come out alive. After a year the commercial shop plating was showing rust spots, the hells angles plating was still perfect years on. I expect the stuff that lasted was copper/nickel/chrome, as I understand it chrome plate is porous and nickel isn't hence chrome on nickel so maybe they just gave it a chrome coat on the steel which won't last.

Jan, the question was asked in the damper thread about the load required to press out the shaft, maybe you didn't visit the thread again after posting a comment, any answer.
David Billington

This thread was discussed between 02/11/2022 and 05/11/2022

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