Plating at home

I’m liking the looks of process number 2. Making me think seriously about getting on this wagon.

Another evening plating more parts. Looks like I have about 2-3 evenings more to get engine stuff done.

It's hit or miss. I mean, I am pretty sure it is scientific and can be dialed in. Observations:
- Amperage. How accurate it is on my power supply? Number it shows.. I wonder. I don't know what is effect of low amps (not enough). But I learned that too much will make too many deposits and not good. I need to redo couple parts now.
- Surface area. PITA to calculate but I guess this is key for consistency. I don't do it but I am being punished for it.
- Brightener - not sure. It's either this chemical need to be added "per session" and it somehow goes away from bath with time vs use or it's just my observation. Or just coincidence. But 2nd and 3rd time plating (2 and 3rd day) - same deal. First batch was dull. Maybe amps. Maybe something else. But this is what it is.
- Different metals. Don't know but I feel like some parts just go bling and some just stay dull. What gives.
- Pickling/acid remove old plating. I feel like a must. Wait until hissing stops. Might take 1-2 minutes for some parts, get nervous leaving them for so long in acid.
- Chromate. Sticks great to most. But some parts even dry after 10 hours - comes off with fingers. No idea why. Different metal.
- Positioning and electric contact. Not much space in a bucket. I feel like area further away from heater right on edge between anodes and about 2-3 inch deep is the best. Deeper - not so good.
- Chromate color. I found color get's richer once dried. So, dipping for a second and rinsing might look like nothing happened but it will give part almost factory look. I kept doing more for parts from same groups I already did. But for engine bolts I will do just 1 second.

Anyhow. I am getting used to it but with all the variables it is still "home grade DIY" deal. And, main thing, how is it going to hold up? I know my bike will be in garage, but still..

Pictures showing same batch I was doing carb pieces. Big adjustment bolt came out dull (with screw). this was first in batch, before I added brightener. Other parts came out great.



 

Im also busy experimenting with this, though Im going homegrown. No Caswell type kit,just readily available supermarket stuff for now. To test longevity,I plated a few old bolts and left them out in the rain. They've been out there for 2 months now.
Ive found that plating once and leaving unpolished is fine but plating once and polishing is not. A single plate (with home brew) isnt strong/thick enough to withstand a polishing.Plating,polishing,plating again and polishing (gently) again works. I think for the real thing,I will need to do it 3 times to be sure. Or get a Caswell kit.
 Anyway, its a good way to test your stuff. Just leave it outside for a few weeks.
( I plated some parts on my XT last year. Just a single plating. Unpolished. and theyre still rust free.)

wrote:

 Anyway, its a good way to test your stuff. Just leave it outside for a few weeks.
( I plated some parts on my XT last year. Just a single plating. Unpolished. and theyre still rust free.)

Problem here is consistency. In order for your test to be valid - you need to make sure area/amps calculated correctly every batch. + Timing.
Otherwise - plating thickness varies from batch to batch and testing won't tell you much