DIY Plating kits. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Audio1950 · 6th Jun 2011, 10:29 am

This subject has been touched on briefly before, but has anyone actually had any experience with the Nickel Plating kits that are available? I'm thinking of the type that use a "wand" dipped in solution and wiped over the article. They are usually around the £45 - £50 mark. I have so many gramophone fittings that have to be replated, I'm thinking it may be worth getting one.

With the greatest respect, please no suggestions that I buy loads of chemicals, batteries, anodes, etc, etc, and do it myself. I don't do chemistry!!

Barry

geofy · 6th Jun 2011, 10:54 am

There are probably engineering firms that could re-plate parts for you, cheaper in the long run and less messing around for you.

Rust is only inert if absolutely dry, and if something is completely rusty it will have no structural integrity. The idea of rust prevention is to save the iron that hasn't yet gone rusty. If untreated iron will continue to turn into iron oxide.

Panrock · 6th Jun 2011, 12:18 pm

I've had good results from the Barvic kit when replating screening cans.

But more recently, I tried to replate the viking head off my Rover P4 radiator grille using the 'super-bright' (ie. chrome appearance) version of the kit. This time the results were poor. Whether the plating bath had 'gone off' from standing (sealed) for several years I don't know...

brenellic2000 · 6th Jun 2011, 2:44 pm

I remember an article in one of the classic motor/motorcycle magazines in the 70s on these brush-on versus immersion-bath kits. The brush-type were pretty useless! Their only advantage was if you couldn't dismantle a fitted item... but the plating was pretty superficial.

And therin lies the secret to good plating, dismantling the component parts to get them back to good, clean, bright pitted-free metal. I long thought about a bath kit back then, but could never justify the 'high' cost... and I was rich in those days!

Audio1950 · 9th Jun 2011, 12:01 am

Hmmm, that doesn't sound too good an idea, then. I will try a few engineering firms, though, thanks for the suggestion.
I do have a very good firm locally that does my plating, the problems being that a) because they are good, they are getting increasingly busier, and waiting time is now two or three months, and b)I'm spending more on the replating than the gramophone cost me in the first place!

Barry

6th Jun 2011, 10:29 am	#1
Audio1950 Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Whittlesey, near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 3,763	DIY Plating kits. This subject has been touched on briefly before, but has anyone actually had any experience with the Nickel Plating kits that are available? I'm thinking of the type that use a "wand" dipped in solution and wiped over the article. They are usually around the £45 - £50 mark. I have so many gramophone fittings that have to be replated, I'm thinking it may be worth getting one. With the greatest respect, please no suggestions that I buy loads of chemicals, batteries, anodes, etc, etc, and do it myself. I don't do chemistry!! Barry

6th Jun 2011, 10:54 am	#2
geofy Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,798	Re: DIY Plating kits. There are probably engineering firms that could re-plate parts for you, cheaper in the long run and less messing around for you. Rust is only inert if absolutely dry, and if something is completely rusty it will have no structural integrity. The idea of rust prevention is to save the iron that hasn't yet gone rusty. If untreated iron will continue to turn into iron oxide.

6th Jun 2011, 12:18 pm	#3
Panrock Nonode Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 2,534	Re: DIY Plating kits. I've had good results from the Barvic kit when replating screening cans. But more recently, I tried to replate the viking head off my Rover P4 radiator grille using the 'super-bright' (ie. chrome appearance) version of the kit. This time the results were poor. Whether the plating bath had 'gone off' from standing (sealed) for several years I don't know... __________________ https://www.radiocraft.co.uk

6th Jun 2011, 2:44 pm	#4
brenellic2000 Octode Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rye, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 1,647	Re: DIY Plating kits. I remember an article in one of the classic motor/motorcycle magazines in the 70s on these brush-on versus immersion-bath kits. The brush-type were pretty useless! Their only advantage was if you couldn't dismantle a fitted item... but the plating was pretty superficial. And therin lies the secret to good plating, dismantling the component parts to get them back to good, clean, bright pitted-free metal. I long thought about a bath kit back then, but could never justify the 'high' cost... and I was rich in those days!

9th Jun 2011, 12:01 am	#5
Audio1950 Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Whittlesey, near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 3,763	Re: DIY Plating kits. Hmmm, that doesn't sound too good an idea, then. I will try a few engineering firms, though, thanks for the suggestion. I do have a very good firm locally that does my plating, the problems being that a) because they are good, they are getting increasingly busier, and waiting time is now two or three months, and b)I'm spending more on the replating than the gramophone cost me in the first place! Barry