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Old 08-04-2006, 11:34 AM
seanc seanc is offline
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Default Re: Best way to prep & plate nuts&bolts

Woody:
Quote:
This may sound dumb, but how do you ensure that the SS rod or butter knife is in contact with all the parts all the time?
Well, those are the "kinks" I haven't worked out entirely. Particularly a mounting which would hold the rod in just the right position all the time. It really needs to be spring loaded so it can shift position with the parts as they tumble.

Some large commercial plating barrels use this method. They call it a "dangler". Some danglers are large balls which simply ride on top of the parts pile. Others are thin rods which get surrounded by the parts. Of course, they are complicated devices using slip rings for electrical contact, while I'm trying to keep it simple. The tradeoffs aren't as easy to overcome as I figured.

Quote:
Does it just touch one, and they then touch each other?
Exactly.

Don't know how well this would work for nickle or copper. The current in zinc is fairly low, so it passes through the parts easily.

Sean
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