Best prep for yellow zinc?

[JOEPRO]

I have some custom Mercedes crank lock tools im designing at present. To be watercut from mild steel, TIG welded and yellow zinc plated by a local place.

Eg one of them



I am wondering what is the best prep for yellow zinc?

I will have to remove light burrs on the back from cutting. And to clean off the millscale coating that comes on new mild steel prior to plating.

Do I:

Light shot blast?
240grit scotch type buffing wheel?
Dunk in citric acid?
Any other ideas?

 

[ajlelectronics]

Any other ideas?

My guess is that the plater will prepare the parts as required.

 

[JOEPRO]

My guess is that the plater will prepare the parts as required.

No they don't do the prep. They want parts brought to them ready to dip.

 

[ajlelectronics]

No they don't do the prep. They want parts brought to them ready to dip.

Wow! Perhaps they might do you the courtesy of explaining how you should do it then?

 

[MetalMonkey]

No they don't do the prep. They want parts brought to them ready to dip.

That sounds a lot like a pending - "if the coating fails it was down to improper prep" slopey shoulders..

 

[JOEPRO]

Wow! Perhaps they might do you the courtesy of explaining how you should do it then?

It's a sideline for their main business and I'm sure any number of idiots come in with garbage looking it plated so I understand.

Prep is no issue for me just seeking opinions on best approach is all.

Here are old MB bolts they done for me before as example-

 

[JOEPRO]

That sounds a lot like a pending - "if the coating fails it was down to improper prep" slopey shoulders..

If bad prep they refuse to take it at all

 

[tigdlo]

Any other ideas?

Use stainless and skip the plating.

 

[JOEPRO]

I think yellow or silver zinc plating on a lightly blasted surface would be just fine for a tool anyway. Kind of like this -



The slight texture would help with grip. Maybe a bright smooth zinc part is not the best either hence this could be the way to go....

 

[Parm]

No they don't do the prep. They want parts brought to them ready to dip.

all the plating shops I’ve ever been to do thier own prep

 

[JOEPRO]

all the plating shops I’ve ever been to do thier own prep

They aren't a plating shop.

 

[Parm]

They aren't a plating shop.

How they putting on the yellow zinc?

‘I think yellow or silver zinc plating‘ your own words ?

 

[JOEPRO]

The company does Roll Thread Components as their business. As a part of this they have zinc plating facilities. (Sensible) locals know that if they bring them cleaned up classic car hardware etc they will plate it for you. It's a sideline for them and quite busy too always dozens of boxes in a queue for plating.

The downside is they can sometimes lose or mix up parts too. But overall a bucket of car bolts comes back like new for about £20 so its great value and since local to me minimal hassle.

 

[RichardM]

I wouldn't shot blast them.
Bead blast or citric to descale the surface and the scotchbrite buffing wheel to give a good surface finish.

At £20 that's a steal, I was paying more than that to get my bzp bike parts replated years ago.

 

[Woody.v8]

I hit flat parts like that with a da ,
I use a cerracut ceramic disc.

 

[Parm]

They aren't a plating shop.

The company does Roll Thread Components as their business. As a part of this they have zinc plating facilities. (Sensible) locals know that if they bring them cleaned up classic car hardware etc they will plate it for you. It's a sideline for them and quite busy too always dozens of boxes in a queue for plating.

The downside is they can sometimes lose or mix up parts too. But overall a bucket of car bolts comes back like new for about £20 so its great value and since local to me minimal hassle.

Quicker u turn than a politician ……..

 

[bricol]

I would have thought simply clean would do as they are new parts - their plating process should sort the rest.

But as others have suggested, would not simply asking whoever you leave the bucket of parts with be the easiest route?

And can I send you some buckets full . . .?

 

[JOEPRO]

Quicker u turn than a politician ……..

I already answered the question back in post #6.

And have answered it several different ways since and people keep asking like below-

But as others have suggested, would not simply asking whoever you leave the bucket of parts with be the easiest route

I need to prep the parts. The zinc place local to me does this along with their own new parts so zinc plating is not their primary business.

All I asked for was simple suggestions on prep. This is a dumpster fire of a thread now as people either can't read or just want to kick the same can around

 

[JOEPRO]

I wouldn't shot blast them.
Bead blast or citric to descale the surface and the scotchbrite buffing wheel to give a good surface finish.

At £20 that's a steal, I was paying more than that to get my bzp bike parts replated years ago.

I hit flat parts like that with a da ,
I use a cerracut ceramic disc.

Thank you for answering my question!!

I have walnut shell I haven't tried before in my recirc shot blast cabinet. I might try that instead of the glass media in there at present as it should be gentle and leave a smoother surface finish. I'll also order up some 240 grit flap discs and scotch type discs and try em as suggested and report back.

Would be interested in other options too.

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

The better the surface finish before plating the better the final result, I'd give it a going over on the buffing wheel then degrrease.

Speaking from personal experience plating at home, done more than 200 items.