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Originally Posted by wayzata
Also I am getting ready to plate a bracket shown in Photo C, but I don't know how to size the piece so I get the right amperage setting. I'm not sure how to estimate odd pieces like this. My first rough estimate is about 38 square inches, which I was going to run at 1.05 mamps (that is all the bulbs I have left) for over an hour. Based on the ruler you see there in the foreground, am I even in the ballpark?
Phil in Minnesota
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Phil;
In the back of the Plating Manual there are two pages of Geometry formulas that will help you calculate the "Surface Area" of items to be plated..
With the "odd ball bracket" you have, it can be very involved to figure the area.. A simple method is to take a sheet of paper, tape the paper to one "end" of the bracket.. about an inch in from the edge of the paper.. Now press the paper to conform to the curves of the bracket while outlining, with a pencil, the edges and openings of the bracket.. Basically, you are making a "flattened-out drawing" of the bracket.. Get a pair of sissors and "cut-out" the bracket and the openings so the sheet of paper represents the "solid area" of the bracket.. Now place this "cut-out" on a sheet of Graph Paper (on the graph paper, get the type with 1/4" squares-- also called a "Planning Pad" that's "4x4 quad rulled".. I paid less than two bucks for a pad of 80 sheets a goodly number of years ago.. It can be found in the office/school supplies sections of Wal-Mart, grocery stores, etc. Office Depot & Office Max, etc. should have it, as well).. anyway, trace your "cut-out" onto the 4x4 graph paper and simply "count the squares" (you will have to be a bit "creative" in counting the half and quarter squares to get "whole" squares).. sixteen squares equals One Square Inch.. and remember, this is only one side.. double your result for the total Surface Area of the Bracket..
Also, if the bracket has some serious thichness, like a sixteenth or an eighth of an inch, you will need to calculate the area of this edge.. Take a soft tape measure (a cloth tape used in sewing is perfect) and carefully measure around the outer edge.. this gives you the circumference (or a "height"), multiply that by the "width" (thickness--use decimal measurements for both-- 1/8" = 0.125" 6 1/4" = 6.25, etc.), the result is the "area" in Square Inches, add that to the Surface Area of the "unfolded" bracket sides, and you have the total Surface Area to be plated.. Simple, Huh??
Lastly, give some serious thought to getting a "real" Power Supply that has adjustable Amps (don't worry about the Volts!).. I have a 12Volt25Amp Plating Powersupply (found on eBay for $50) and it will almost plate more "area" than I have room for in my two gallon kits (except Chrome!).. With the Adjustable Amps, you can "dial-in" the exact amount you need for a particular piece.. I'd strongly recommend that you get something in the 25 amp range to start with.. if you expand in tank size, then you can get a bigger 100 amp or 200 amp power supply.. and we're talking serious money, now!