How to Zinc Plate at Home - Easy Zinc Electroplating
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- čas přidán 18. 12. 2020
- This is a short, but thorough video explaining the process of how to zink plate metal parts. We're going to show you how we managed to plate ordinary hardware with a zinc finish.
If you always have the materials on hand at home you can save yourself a little money and a trip to the hardware store whenever you need zinc plated hardware.
We're going to show you everything you need to have on hand o zinc plate and weatherproof this bolt.
Here's the part you will need to order: Pure Zinc Anode 2 pcs 99.99% Pure Zinc Sheet Electroplating, High Purity Zinc Electrode. Brand: Chudeng.
Be sure to work in a well ventilated area, wear protective eyewear and gloves.
Here is a list of what is used in the video:
One quart plastic, or glass container.
Baking pan (with low edges is okay), one that isn't used around the kitchen anymore and lined
with foil.
Half-gallon plastic bucket with rinse water.
2 D-Cell batteries with a battery caddy. (You can duct tape 2 batteries together with batteries
set up in opposite directions.)
Red and black wire with leads - we call them alligators. Red = positive side for the annode. Black =
negative for the part.
12, or so, inches of wire. Ours is yellow in the video. You will attach a loop to this to secure the
part that needs plating.
Zinc Anodes. (From Amazon about $6)
Distilled water.
White vinegar (cheap or store-brand)
Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (You may have to order this online.)
Clean part as described in the video.
Solder and iron to attach that yellow auxiliary wire or crimpers, if you don't want to solder.
Solder is best.
Air stone, pump and air hose for an aquarium from pet store. Nothing fancy. (Optional)
A good pair of nitrile gloves.
Music, Searching for You by White Hex, courtesy of CZcams Audio Library
Check out our website: customreplications.com/
You might find a part that you've been looking for, or something interesting. - Auta a dopravní prostředky
Thank you for the simple method. I was told by an expert that it wasn't worth messing with the dangerous chemicals and expensive equipment. "Just paint it" is not the answer I was looking for. I'm about to zink plate everything.
We're happy to hear that you found the video helpful and hope that you'll get the finish you're looking for.
One of the best vids I’ve seen, nice and simple, most people get far to complicated as if trying to start a new commercial enterprise, all I want is to clean up small parts, nuts and bolts etc, for motorcycle and cars, So I thank you for that. And thanks for sharing, take care, stay safe. 👍😃
Glad it was helpful! We appreciate your kind words as well. Feel free to share and thanks for watching!
Thank you for the video. I was having trouble zincing using other methods but I made some adjustments after watching your video and BOOM! I was able to get more of the grey effect and the intense bubbling.
Thank you for sharing your success story. So very happy to hear that you found the video useful.
This is exactly the video I needed, thank you so much, I'll be doing this this weekend!
Yes, you'll accomplish much. Thanks for watching!!
Nicely done , bought a huge lot on vintage vise grips all kinds , I need to zinc plate them .
Thanks for watching. Good to see that you found the video useful.
Thanks for much! Appreciate the info and video! will use as a guide to restore and plate some of my Chevelle parts.
Glad it helped. It's convenient once everything is set up. Thanks for watching!
Very good guide, I wanted to do this some of the corroded 1943 steel pennies if I could get one myself.
Here is a list of what is used in the video:
One quart plastic, or glass container.
Baking pan (with low edges is okay), one that isn't used around the kitchen anymore and lined
with foil.
Half-gallon plastic bucket with rinse water.
2 D-Cell batteries with a battery caddy. (You can duct tape 2 batteries together with batteries
set up in opposite directions.)
Red and black wire with leads - we call them alligators. Red = positive side for the anode. Black = negative for the part.
12, or so, inches of wire. Ours is yellow in the video. You will attach a loop to this to secure the
part that needs plating.
Zinc Anode. (From Amazon about $6)
Distilled water.
White vinegar (cheap or store-brand).
Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (You may have to order this online.)
Clean part as described in the video.
Solder and iron to attach that yellow auxiliary wire or crimpers, if you don't want to solder.
Solder is best.
Air stone, pump and air hose for an aquarium from pet store. Nothing fancy. (Optional)
A good pair of nitrile gloves.
Thanks for watching!
As soon as i saw the Temptations Cat Treats container, i knew this video was Legit
Shake the bag, (or value size container) and they'll come. Thank you for sharing your appreciation for this video. Thanks for watching!
I watched a video with no speaking where the harvested a large chunk of Zinc, from the outside shell of "D Cell" Akaline battery that is under the shrink tubing cover with the branding & info on it. I think the caption was the easiest way to get Zinc. You may check into that to reduce cost even more as for many, after zinc, is the "Yellow Cadmium" wash which practice gets right. If I remember, everyone goes a little darker as it lightens after cleaning with a rag.
DK. ASE Master Tech since 78, retired.
Thank you for sharing this information with our viewers. It will be useful for those who have larger projects or want to plate several pieces. We chose the pure zinc anode for smaller projects and a bit of a better result.
Thanks, couldn't find anyone locally that does this so will set up and do my own. Have anodes coming from Amazon.
Perfect! Hope it all works out for you. Thanks for watching!
Ohhhh, our cat loves paper bags too hahaha. Thank for the video really appreciate it
Thanks for watching! Good to hear that you enjoy a cameo appearance once in a while of our furry family member. Thanks for watching. Hope you found the video useful.
excellent presentation, I just subscribed.
Welcome aboard! Thank you so much. Good to know that this video has attracted a new subscriber. We really appreciate it.
Perfect 👍🙌 and I like your cat 😍😄 so cute
Good to hear that you found our video useful and who can't resist our little furry mascot? Thank you so much and thanks for watching!
In the RAF I was an Inspector we had a problem with zinc coated bolts rusting. The manufacturer used standard bolts so when a nut was screwed on it removed the Zinc coating
Oh, no! We always hope ours are there to stay. Thanks for watching!
If you have problems with your aircraft hardware rusting brush on a coat of thinned Par-Al-Ketone after installation. US Navy has been using it on aircraft since WWII.
Thanks, I'm going to give this a try. I found your channel because of your Solstice content, but this looks good as well. One thing though. I always have those Temptations cat treat containers around, but my cats prefer Catnip Fever flavor, I see your container was for Backyard Cookout. Do you think that matters?
Oh, how funny! It might make a difference, but then Memphis, our cat, hasn't tried Catnip Fever. Welcome aboard, we're happy to have you. Hope the zinc technique works out for you.
your cat is super cute and beautiful!
Thank you! 😊 She has quite a personality. Thanks for watching!
Thanks the good video, it helps a lot! At my first try the parts started to get rusty after platting, maybe becouse i used only vinegar and salt ?
Glad it helped! And yes, you may be right about the vinegar and salt. We've heard success stories through comments about the video. Thanks for watching.
Thank you for the great video - I am going to try this with my rusted bolts. I am not knowledgeable when it comes to anything electric. What are the red & black wires with the clips that's attached to the D cell battery called? Is it also required to have a wire and stainless steel attached to the black wire?
We've attached a reverse clamp to the black wire that can be squeezed much like an alligator clamp. After that, we have the yellow wire and some stainless steel wire has been connected to that to make the loop for holding the part. Much of what is done here is to successfully plate the part.
The red and black wires are called electrical wire. This article might be helpful: promiseelectric.com/electrical-wire-colors/
Here is a list of what is used in the video:
One quart plastic, or glass container.
Baking pan (with low edges is okay), one that isn't used around the kitchen anymore and lined
with foil.
Half-gallon plastic bucket with rinse water.
2 D-Cell batteries with a battery caddy. (You can duct tape 2 batteries together with batteries
set up in opposite directions.)
Red wire and black wire with leads - we call them alligators. Red = positive side for the anode. Black =
negative for the part.
12, or so, inches of wire. Ours is yellow in the video. You will attach a loop to this to secure the
part that needs plating.
Reverse clamp which is connected between the black, then the yellow wire.
Zinc Anode. (From Amazon about $6)
Distilled water.
White vinegar (cheap or store-brand)
Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (You may have to order this online.)
Clean part as described in the video.
Solder and iron to attach that yellow auxiliary wire or crimpers, if you don't want to solder.
Solder is best.
Air stone, pump and air hose for an aquarium from pet store. Nothing fancy. (Optional)
A good pair of nitrile gloves.
Good questions! Thanks for watching.
Fantastic
Thank you so much 😀 Hope you'll get some really good results.
Great video - thank you. Question: I have one rusty link in the middle of an otherwise nicely galvainzed chain. Will it be possible to plate the one link while still connected between the two properly galvanized sections using this method? Stoked to try it...
Good question! If you can get the link free of rust it will work. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the reply@@CarzPlus - I'll try and report back!
I'm working with a gsg 1911 which the frame is zinc alloy looks horrible trying to re-zinc it any tips by any chance
A semi-dangerous, if over done method is to dip the part in Muriatic acid for a few seconds. You must then fully flush the part with distilled water and then immediately re-plate with zinc. It should be tested first to verify this solves the issue, but it often does. Be sure to take safety precautions. Thanks for watching!
Interesting video. Thanks. I have a question. It is: how to get matte (rough) surface by doing electroplating (zinc plating or copper plating). I have an aluminium roller. I need to zinc or any other metal plating on it with rough (matte) surface. Please help me..Thanks
The simplified answer is that you will need more voltage and higher current. The battery caddie is not enough. A power supply where you can vary the voltage and current would be the best choice. The objective you are after requires the surface of the part to appear to be boiling with bubbles. Each bubble momentarily prevents plating at the same rate as an area next to it without a bubble on it. The result will be a rough texture to the plating. You do not want to provide a bubbler below your part. Agitation from below with a bubbler will remove bubbles from your part. The reason you need a variable source of voltage and current is that the amount needed is controlled by the surface area of the part you are plating. Experiment first with a similar sized piece of metal of the same composition as your part to find the right setting to produce the finish you desire. It will also take much more physical plating time to produce such a surface finish, but it is achievable. One last note is that a large part will require multiple anodes to get the plating on all portions of the piece being plated.
@@CarzPlus Thank you Carz, I learned a lot from your statement. May the Lord Jesus Christ extend grace to you
Hi Carz Plus, can you share me what chemical perfect for chloride acid zinc plating Brightener & Shoftener ?
Try searching here: caswellplating.com/
Thanks for watching!
Wouldn't polishing the bolt head cause the zinc coating to be compromised? Or at the very least more susceptible to oxidization than if left unpolished?
No, not as long as you do nothing more than light polish as shown. You can also plate for a longer period before polishing to add a thicker zinc coat. Thanks for watching.
If you have a condensing type clothes dryer, you can use the condensed water from that.
I wouldn't recommend it. The condensed water might have other contaminants. Thanks for watching!
Nice video. Nice and free. The kit I wanted for plating is 220 bucks :(.
Glad to help. Your kind words are proof that we are fulfilling part of our mission. Thanks for watching!
Hi, will a zinc plating cover and hide fine surface scratches nicely, or does it not hide defects in the metal too well?
No, surface defects will still show with this process. If you're getting parts ready for a 100pt restoration, you definitely will want to prepare the best surface before plating. Thanks for watching!
Hi you think it possible to zinc plate a slot car track
This brings back memories! I had a slot car track back when I was in grade school. I remember that there were 2 sizes. A larger size with cars, roughly O-Gage, and the smaller size approximately HO- Gauge. Mine were the smaller ones. I vaguely remember the tracks had bright plating in the slot area. I don't know exactly what the plating was. I would surmise nickel, since it would hold up better when the cars picked up the electricity from their posts in the slots.
The plating method would work, but I don't think its the correct solution. Zinc is, compared to nickel, relatively soft and not as wear resistant. I'm not sure it will hold up to the slot cars pickup posts continuously running over it.
Thanks for watching!
how much of all the items can be reused? can the zinc anode be used for many tries? is the chemical "solution" a one time use? do i have to throw it away for every new plating process?
Annodes can be used again and again. The solution can be kept and used repeatedly. Over time you will need to equally restore your plating solution to its original ratios due to the water evaporating from it. Thanks for watching!
Have a piece that's about six square inches to plate and going to use two anodes, one each side. thought it would take a lot longer than 90 seconds.
Good to know that it as successful. Thanks for watching!
Not sure what I’m doing wrong but I see a lot of bubbling and my anode it turning white but I don’t see any noticeable transfer. I see the copper wires turning silver, but it’s certainly not happening after 30 seconds or 1 minute.
Check your measurements and make sure the equipment you're using is clean. You may have to start over. Here is a list of what is used in the video:
One quart plastic, or glass container.
Baking pan (with low edges is okay), one that isn't used around the kitchen anymore and lined
with foil.
Half-gallon plastic bucket with rinse water.
2 D-Cell batteries with a battery caddy. (You can duct tape 2 batteries together with batteries
set up in opposite directions.)
Red and black wire with leads - we call them alligators. Red = positive side for the annode. Black =
negative for the part.
12, or so, inches of wire. Ours is yellow in the video. You will attach a loop to this to secure the
part that needs plating.
Zinc Annode. (From Amazon about $6)
Distilled water.
White vinegar (cheap or store-brand)
Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (You may have to order this online.)
Clean part as described in the video.
Solder and iron to attach that yellow auxiliary wire or crimpers, if you don't want to solder.
Solder is best.
Air stone, pump and air hose for an aquarium from pet store. Nothing fancy. (Optional)
A good pair of nitrile gloves.
I did this to the specifications in the video but i am getting no bubbles when i put parts in the solution. ?
That usually means you are not getting a good electric connection at some point.
Can i use sacrificial zinc anodes for boats?
Good question! And yes, you can.
Nice vid! Question: Could you also just use zinc spray in a can instead of the plating process?
Trying to figure out the same thing
You can, but you can't beat the results from using the plating process. Thanks!
You can, but you'll achieve better results with plating.
Cold galv spray will protect well, but it will scratch right off if the part is exposed to abrasion of any kind such as this bolt as its being re-installed.
Yes, that's right. Thank you for sharing your expertise and thanks for watching!
Hi.. a couple of questions.. 1) can I use Citric acid for zinc plating?.. I buy it to add a teaspoon to dishwasher and washing machine cycles to dissolve limescale.. and 2) if i use a car battery charger, is the 'grainy thing just aesthetic?.. or does it affect the durability of the coating?.. I'm asking as I want to electroplate some agricultural attachments I make for myself, instead of painting them... I can put 12 or 24 volts on it, from 3 to 65 amps, as the 'charger' can also be used to direct 'start up', .. I got 2 x 3kg pure zinc anodes from a forge that makes sacrificial anodes for boats, but they left the other metals out of it to give me a pure zinc lump... cost me about $91/£70 for 6kg (13lbs)
That's a good question. Citric acid attacks zinc and gives off an offensive odor, much like a skunk. It will not work. Plating too fast results in a pebbled finish. Sometimes the result may resemble a cast piece. However, if the plating is too fast and subsequently very pebbled, it will have a tendency to not adhere well to the part being plated. Thanks for watching!
How would you recomend too zinc plate a clevis? Same steps id assume but let it plate longer get thicker id assume?
Good question! Due to the shape and size, you may need a bit more voltage which then allows an increase in current. Time will possibly need to be increased. However, the best answer due to the more complicated shape is to have more zinc anodes. I would suggest 3 equally spaced around the part and wired together. The purpose of this is to avoid unequal plating on a complex part.
Hi , can I use zinc plate from old batteries, ? and I made a little knife from a bolt so can I protect that from corrosion by doing this process?????
Yes you can but you should melt it down into a new clean Ingot.
@@Robert-vp6xf thanks
We prefer to purchase the zinc anodes, which are reasonably priced. While this process may work, we fear the possibility of contamination. Thanks for watching.
Can you use this same process for aluminum ?
Good question. No, it would require a different process.
so there's no need to use zinc acetate? wonder if there's a difference?
Good question and it would seem logical. We recommend the zinc anode. Thanks for watching!
Here's the part you will need to order: Pure Zinc Anode 2 pcs 99.99% Pure Zinc Sheet Electroplating, High Purity Zinc Electrode. Brand: Chudeng.
I've made a zinc bath ,made it very strong,,but used table salt instead of washing soda..but it won't coat between washer and bolt head..usin sandblasting and muriatic acid for cleaning..is this normal
Yes, this can happen. Often the item is not clean enough. It can also happen because it is harder to plate in recessed areas between parts that can not be disassembled. Sometimes this can require multiple anodes, or anodes bent into shapes that focus on the recessed area.
It can also be necessary to change the orientation of the part being plated several times during the process. Further, it can help to agitate the plating solution. Many industrial plating systems appear like they are boiling from the use of agitation systems, usually in the form of bubbles.
Thanks for watching!
@@CarzPlus I made a nickle bath to..but it just won't plate..its a dark emerald green but I had the copper wire in the solution while I was making it...I think it destroyed if I leave parts in the solution they turn copper color without electricity..I quite new to this..lol
What is the purpose of adding washing soda to the acetic acid solution, wouldn't it react with the acid and neutrolize each other out since one is an acid and the other one is base?
Good question! Washing soda isn't the same as baking soda. You won't get the same reaction as you would by pouring vinegar onto baking soda. distilled water won't conduct electricity and as a result plating will not occur. Thanks for watching.
In order to get your electroplating working properly, you need an acid solution in which you put both your anode and kathode. Adding a current will start the process. After you’re done you end up with a metal plated part that is in contact with an acid solution. To avoid the acid etching and corroding the electroplated part you need to neutralise the acid on the metal and the best way to do that is by putting it in a basic solution, like water and soda. In my opinion, adding soda to the electroplating solution will only decrease the efficiency of the electroplating process. It may still work (as long as it is acidic), but it will take much longer to achieve the same result. Next time, try two different baths, one acidic (and you can add a lot more vinegar) for the electroplating and one soda bath to neutralise the acid afterwards. Also you can speed up the process even more if you use a better power source, like e.g. a labo power supply.
Here’s the deal. Acetic acid from vinegar is a weak acid and only forms 1% ions that conduct electricity whereas strong acids like muriatic ionize 100% in water. The washing soda is sodium carbonate and neutralizes some of the acetic acid creating sodium acetate which conducts electricity well. Some of the vinegar is not neutralized so the pH is lowered by the remaining acetic acid. This condition helps dissolve the anode so it will plate onto the steel object
Oh so the sodium acetate is what we want to achieve? I use sulphuric acid and water for the electrolysis then afterwards I have a sodium carbonate bath which I neutralize with and then wash in water. There seems to be many ways to do electroplating
I'm trying to zinc plate with a steel washer and white vinegar and salt, I have all the bubbles when power is put through but from what I can see the washer is going black??
Usually, dark plating results from too much current. Using less slows the process, but improves color. Further, you can have impurities and other chemicals in your solution that can cause plating problems. Be sure to use a clean plastic or glass container with no residue of any sort. Use only distilled water and vinegar from an original factory container. Use only straight salt (non-iodized). Then, fully clean the zinc anode to remove any other contaminants.
@@CarzPlus hi and thanks for that. I used an old charger with an output of 9V and 200mA, I guess that was too much?
I also used distilled vinegar and table salt, is this not the right stuff?
Craig 200 mA is way too much - you probably want 2 or 3 mA tops.
Can I make fuel resistive parts with this method?
Good question. Yes, this is totally fuel resistant.
What is the plating solution formula
Here is a list of what is used in the video:
One quart plastic, or glass container.
Baking pan (with low edges is okay), one that isn't used around the kitchen anymore and lined
with foil.
Half-gallon plastic bucket with rinse water.
2 D-Cell batteries with a battery caddy. (You can duct tape 2 batteries together with batteries
set up in opposite directons.)
Red and black wire with leads - we call them alligators. Red = positive side for the annode. Black =
negative for the part.
12, or so, inches of wire. Ours is yellow in the video. You will attach a loop to this to secure the
part that needs plating.
Zinc Annode. (From Amazon about $6)
Distilled water.
White vinegar (cheap or store-brand)
Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (You may have to order this online.)
Clean part as described in the video.
Solder and iron to attach that yellow auxiliary wire or crimpers, if you don't want to solder.
Solder is best.
Air stone, pump and air hose for an aquarium from pet store. Nothing fancy. (Optional)
A good pair of nitrile gloves.
Thank you for waiting for the answer and thanks for watching.
Can I use a car battery for zinc plating
Basically, it's best to go with what's recommended in the video. We haven't experimented with a car battery.
I'm I doing something WRONG? I zinc plated my bolts and than deposited into a Nickel plating bath. But after the nickel plating it looks like the zinc coating somehow got removed. Can someone tell me what I'm doing wrong?
Good question! The acid used in most nickel plating attacks and removes the zinc. Zinc parts are often plated with cyanide copper first to protect them from the acid used in nickel plating baths. Cyanide is a deadly poison and this is best left to a professional plater. Thanks for watching.
Me and my car thank you!!!!!
Sweet, thank you! Good to hear that you found the video useful.
One tiny comment.
If you make the strength of the electorate solution too strong, for example by adding (any/too much) zinc chloride the plating happens too quickly, and it does not actually plate.
You just grow large random zinc crystals on the item you want to plate. It is like frost on a leaf, it falls off if you shake it.
From experience, as I lean how to zinc plate. It was my first mistake > stronger is most certainly not better.
Quite correct you can make it too strong.
How long do the batteries last
Oh, no. Sorry... sounds like something to include in a future video.
What Kind Of Acid Are You Used???
Cheap white vinnagar is the acid used in the process here.
White vinegar is the acid in this process.
can I use 12v car battery?
No, That is too much amperage.
Im from asia. We dont have that washing soda you spoke of. Can I use baking soda?
No. Washing soda and baking soda are not the same at all. Baking soda will completely neutralize acid. Here is a substitute solution:
Mix together 300 grams of Epsom salts, 100 grams of zinc sulfate, 200ml of white vinegar and about 1/3 bottle of corn syrup into 4.5 liters of tap water and stir with a paint stick until everything is well dissolved. Thank you for your question and thanks for watching.
You can place Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) onto a cookie sheet in an oven and bake at 200F (95 C) for an hour. It will reduce to Washing soda (sodium carbonate).
👍
Thank you for the "thumbs up!"
Why would you neutralize the acetic acid with sodium carbonate?? What is the purpose of using both acid and base in the solution??
There's a similar question that came in from one of our viewers, Zara Hall. There's a good exchange between her and one of our other viewers. Take a look. Also, your question and maybe others that will come to mind might be in the comments section of this video. Thanks for watching.
That is a fine cat you have, what is his name? Names are so important!
Aww, thanks. Her name is Memphis. She has a masculine look, I suppose, because of the moustache. Sometimes I call her Groucho. Her predecessor was Nashville and she had a few cameos as well.
@@CarzPlus well, according to the internet that name, Memphis, means established and beautiful! Jesus is the answer to all your needs and questions! Be blessed by the Lord 😊
@@neogovernment Thank you, and you as well!
Hi 2 Cat :)
Meow! Yes, she's been a hit. Thanks for watching!
Nice Kitty😽
Memphis said, "Thank you!" She was happy to star in the blooper portion of the video, too. Happy to see that you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching!
Wouldn't it be cheaper just to buy stainless steel bolts
Yes, possibly and more convenient, but there are 2 considerations. First, if you are doing a 100-point restoration, or you're a purist, you may want the original bolts. Second, stainless steel bolts are most often less than grade 5. That means they are not as strong as originally supplied in many cases. This could be important at times.
Think I rather just go to the hard ware store and buy a new one for 5$ a lb lol
In a lot of cases, that's more practical. Sometimes parts are rare enough, that they can't be replaced and having them plated is the only option. Or, maybe when the part shows, we want to maintain the vintage look. Some of us can easily set up the equipment at home. Although, Trish would like to upgrade the buckets with nicer lettering. Thanks for watching!
Did you name your cat Memphis cause it’s black?
The cat in this video is the successor to our cat named Nashville. We're just going with a theme. Thinking about naming the next cat Lynchburg. Thanks for watching!
Why do people always feel the need to include frivolous wastes of viewer's time with boring inclusion of their pets and progeny? Just get down to business.
With pets, epically, it's done to add a personal touch. While cat cameos are rare in our videos, we have come across a few people who've enjoyed seeing them. Most people like animals. Our channel content is 99% informative and I can only think of three of our videos, at the moment, that have a cat cameo. Now, in this video the cat appears while voice instruction continues, which is 6.67% of the video. Thank you for your interest in how to zinc plate at home.