Sean, or others; carb plating question

[awdmh]

I have a home brew zinc-plating setup. My question for you more experienced fellows is how do you effectively plate the nooks and crannies of carbs and other irregular surfaces. I deal mainly with the old Holley 94s. Many thanks, and please check out my other questions about the chromate as to temperature of the solution, ratio of DI water to powder, and type of container for solution; plastic metal, etc. It is the yellow chromate.

[seanc]

Originally Posted by awdmh

I have a home brew zinc-plating setup. My question for you more experienced fellows is how do you effectively plate the nooks and crannies of carbs and other irregular surfaces.

You've already tried and can't get good plate in nooks & crannies? What kind of home-brew electrolyte?

Chloride zinc electrolyte (Caswells variety) has excellent throwing power, and should have no problem getting into tight spots. I haven't plated a carb body yet (maybe this weekend), but I've done quite a few other odd shaped items with recesses, and they all plated fine.

Sean

[awdmh]

It is a vinegar base soltuion, very low-tech. That's no doubt the problem. I have a recipe and basic ingredients for a chloride base solution I will try. Thanks for the help.

The chromate container says to use .5-2 oz per gallon. I like the looks of your projects, what ratio are you using?

[seanc]

I've never heard that vinegar could even be used for the electrolyte, and it would seem contradictory.

Zinc is very reactive, and dissolves easily in acids. Vinegar is an acid, and can be used to strip or activate zinc surfaces. So it sounds like your vinegar based electrolyte might be working against itself, stripping the zinc plate almost as fast as it puts it down?

Are you using zinc anodes, or have you dissolved the zinc in the vinegar first?

Caswells electrolyte has zinc dissolved directly in the electrolyte, so anywhere the fluid finds its way into, will plate. Some zinc is transferred directly from the anodes to the parts, but quite a bit of it is simply to replenish the zinc plated out of the electrolyte.

Sean

[awdmh]

Both, I dissolve zinc in the vinegar, then add epsom salt, table sugar, and then use an zinc anode.