Prep for Bolt Plating

[gdanneffel]

I was planning to buy a Plug and Plate kit to plate several bolts on my motorcycle. Then I read somewhere that zinc bolts need to be stripped with acid before plating. Attached is a pic of the bolts.



The bolt on the left in each set has been buffed/polished - actually came out pretty good. The bolt on the right is unpolished and is what I assume the polished ones will look like after a couple of washes if not plated.

Are these bolts coated with a material that requires any prep necessary other than cleaning/degreasing prior to plating with the Copy Chrome Plug n Plate kit? Thanks in advance for any advice. --Greg

[mcaswell]

Simple test for zinc is to place a drop of battery acid or muriatic acid on the bolt. If it fizzes, it's zinc.

You'll need to remove the zinc plate prior to plating with Copy Chrome.

Remove the zinc plate by immersing the bolts in a weak solution of acid.

[chromo]

Often I see Acid mentioned for variuors things. Like tarnishing (oxidizing) pewter to that dark gray finish.

Is battery acid and muratic acid used for nearly everything? Much of the time it just says acid, but when some type is mentioned, it is one or both of those 2.

Reason ask is I do lots of stuff that just mentions acid in general.

Weak acid, could be diluted muratic, or vinager, or tomato juice

I see on the plating site and in the forum mostly Muratic and Sulfuric mentioned.

Are those safe for about anything that just says, weak acid?

chromo

[mcaswell]

When we mention weak acid, it doesn't really matter which you use. You'll see a reaction no matter what you use, including vinegar and tomato juice (although it will be slower and less obvious)

For some purposes, such as chrome stripping or nickel activating, we're more specific about which to use.

We recommend sulfuric or muriatic acids because they're generally easy to get hold of, being battery acid and concrete cleaner, respectively.

[chromo]

Thanks,
That's sort of what I thought, just not being much of a chemist I wasn't sure.

I'll have to try the pewter in battery acid then, I have some extra.


Chromo