Restoring and Bolts.....What to do ?

[w30bob]

Hi Guys,

Well, the weather is breaking and it looks like Spring will finally get here (knock on wood). So it's time for me to start getting things ready to restore something sitting in my driveway, wink, wink. I'm looking for input on what to do in terms of restoring all the old nuts/bolts/washers after they're de-rusted. I'm not going to be comfortable just installing them raw and painting the exposed parts green......so I guess my best options are zinc plating (electrolytic) or coating them with black oxide. I don't want to send them out to be plated, as those guys lose more than they plate and it's expensive. Yeah, color me cheap!

So anyone have any experience with zinc plating or black oxide? Eastwood makes kits for both and I think I have the black oxide kit somewhere, but I'm thinking the zinc plating offers better protection. Or if anyone has a better idea..........please shout out.

thanks,
bob

[jordankjcm]

I have used nickel plating kits from Caswell with GREAT results. I used the electroless nickel plating version. http://www.caswellplating.com

[52 M-42]

I sent all my nut, bolts, screws washers, etc out to a plating house to be silver cad plated. They did a great job and probably lost less than I did taking things apart and putting them back together. They charged by by the lot so I just took in a great big bucket of stuff.

Just my experience. I like the look.

52 M-42

[k8icu]

Here you go. DIY at home instructions to zinc plate. It will take some time, but you should get some good results. Better than the molasses I'd think.

http://home.comcast.net/~rt66tbird/webs ... ating.html

[jim lee]

Wow! That's kinda' cool!

-jim lee

[w30bob]

Thanks for the info guys. Anybody know how well paint adheres to zinc plated parts?

regards,
bob

[k8icu]

Real good especially after you sand blast them...

You'll have to rough them up a bit to get the paint to stick. Or use and etching primer and then paint.