Hello
Sunday afternoon I had my first try at zinc plating! Its a kit my son got off ebay. I took some photos and I am trying this flikr thingy as well, I feel a head ache coming on.
Anyway, Mrs Snowy wanted her wee lowering so I got some 1" links off ebay, but she wants to try a little lower, don't fancy going as far as 2" so I have made some 1.5" and thought I would try plating instead of painting.
This is one of the polished links before plating.
IMG_0537 by
snowy650, on Flickr
Plating tank. With aquarium heater.
IMG_0536 by
snowy650, on Flickr
Plating tank with the links in it. Notice the fine bubbles around the suspending wires where they enter the liquid. This is a good sign, it means plating process is taking place. The zinc comes from the plates at each end of the tank.
IMG_0538 by
snowy650, on Flickr
Anther view showing the variable resistor. The instructions show you where the various crocodile clips go according to the surface area of metal you are plating, larger area= more amps required. The power comes from the ancient battery charger or a charged up battery, a modern "thinking" battery tender won't work. The links took just over 4 amps and I left them in for 40 minutes
IMG_0539 by
snowy650, on Flickr
I also plated a nail and put it in water with an unplated nail.
IMG_0540 by
snowy650, on Flickr
Here they are 24hrs later. Plated nail still bright and shiny, unplated rusty already.
IMG_0542 by
snowy650, on Flickr
Finished links hanging up to allow the plating to harden.
IMG_0541 by
snowy650, on Flickr
Photo of links after a light polish with sol-vol. I will leave them outside until I fit them to see what happens.
IMG_0543 by
snowy650, on Flickr
Thanks to Mrs Snowy for helping with the computer stuff