Yellow Zinc plating

[NITRO450EXP]

Hello,

I am about to go down the rabbit hole again.

This time it is zinc plating and yellow dichromate finishing.

I have a pair of 40DCOE32 side draft carbs I am redoing.

I can buy new zinc plated hardware and banjo fittings and linkages, but the stuff on the carbs is original and just tatty.

So tarnish removal and re-plating it is with a nice iridescent yellow finish.

Plus it's only chemistry and who doesn't love chemistry. 

Before pic for starters.

Body has been simple green degreaser and soda blasted, ultrasonic next.

Progress will be posted.

Nitro

 

[NITRO450EXP]

After disassembly and Ultra sonic cleaning

 

[Sajeev]

I was pretty terrible at chemistry in school, so what that in mind, I must say I am beyond impressed with what you are doing here.  Keep the pics coming!!!!

[NITRO450EXP]

My Sodium Dichromate is in USPS Hell, who knows when it will be delivered.
My Zinc tank is saturated and ready to electroplate.
My HCI etch bath will be setup today.

Everything was run through the Ultrasonic cleaner last night.

Will be plating by Wednesday I hope.

Nitro

[NITRO450EXP]

 

 

Zinc Plate solution, Acid etch, Acid neutralizer and Reverse Osmosis water rinse.

[NITRO450EXP]

My Sodium Dichlorate will be delivered today.
Hopefully the Sulphuric acid will arrive at the auto parts store (Battery acid), they were out, both stores.

Getting closer every day.

Did a test etch and test plate yesterday looks good.

Nitro

[Sajeev]

This is awesome. 

[NITRO450EXP]

Before acid etch to remove old zinc.

After Zinc plate before buff with OO steel wool.

After buff, fresh zinc. 

After buff banjo fitting.

After passivation with Sodium Dichlorate, corrosion protection. (Bling Bling)

[NITRO450EXP]

Now if I polish all the brass hardware it will be Super Bling Bling. Probably not going for stock look.

[NITRO450EXP]

Almost factory. Not happy with passivation coating will redo.

 

[Sajeev]

I think it looks amazing! And I am learning something new because of your concerns: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passivation_(chemistry) 

[JamesFee]

Wow! That's an impressive project. I've got a set of  4 48IDAs that could use that kind of sparkle the next rebuild. Thanks for detailing the process.