Zinc Plating (2011)

We had a win a while back. My friend gave the crankcases of his Manx to a guy to have the baked on Castrol R removed. The guy took them back to bare metal. I found a supplier to the aircraft industry who could do the chromate passivation of magnesium alloy, as was used on the Rolls Royce Merlin engines. The job was done for free - all that was wanted was the plater wanted to see the bike after it had been rebuilt.
Aircraft guys usually love old motorcycles. Most of the fasteners on my Seeley have come out of an aircraft hanger which is full of out of shelf life components. Did you know titanium has a shelf life ? My engine bolts are off the Hornet.

The Caswell "Copy Cad" zinc plating kit chemicals do not contain cyanide.

Ken

So it must be 'acid zinc'. I've heard of it, but never used it, so I don't know the potential for hydrogen embrittlement.

Jdub said:

I will report back on how this worked for one full Commando resto. I intend on plating everything from simple bolts to the axles, rear wheel adjusters, hexagonal spacer backside of chain case, and

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I would not plate the axels. The PO of a 72 Interstate I am working on cad plated the front axel and I had a hell of a time getting it off. It is supposed slide out easily. I had to hammer very hard on a drift for quite a while to get it thru the bearings. Had to replace axel and bearings. Actually it was nickel plated.

I now have the Caswell Copy Cad kit in my hands and after consuming the manual and reading up here I am not sure I am up to the task.

This is based first on myself for not researching this kit and the expense. The additional costs I had not expected included the adjustable electrics device, Blue chromate expense, and sundries. Again, my fault and no reflection on Caswell.

Really I am the guy between needing just a bike's worth of parts and the cost and danger of lost parts if using professional. The kit is new and untouched so it is possible it may end up on the For Sale forum for a nice price.

If you find a plater who contracts to the aircraft industry, it is very unlikely that they would lose your parts.

acotrel said:

If you find a plater who contracts to the aircraft industry, it is very unlikely that they would lose your parts.

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A local plater that I used many years ago had a sign on their wall saying, "God is not on our payroll. Sometimes small pieces get lost."