Topic: Caswell Plug n' Plate kits

[srbakker]

Hey all,

I'm thinking of trying some plating at home but it's sort of impractical to buy a bunch of different large plating kits from Caswell.  Then I saw their plug n plate kits, which seems like it would allow you to do multiple small objects (nuts and bolts and the like) and try a number of different finishes fairly inexpensively.

Does anyone have any experience with these things?

http://www.caswellcanada.ca/shop/plug-n-plate-nickel-kit.html

They have that kit for nickel, zinc, black chrome, bronze, copper, etc.

[jamesb]

it's not as easy as they will lead you to believe. i had bought one a long time ago to do headbadges on antique bicycles the final product was not as good as you would think it is more of a dull nickel finish if anything. i will look through all my old headbadges and see if i still have that one. it did work but like i said it was a dull finish it worked on about 2-3 badges and that was it.in my opinion it wasn't worth the the money

[srbakker]

Hmm.  Good to know, thanks.

[Gonzowerke]

I was looking into them as well,
http://www.caswellplating.com/electroplating-anodizing/zinc-plating-kits.html

I need to re-cad my gascaps and a few other things. I soaked them in Phosphoric acid, and it ate all the cad plating off as well as the rust! This kit lets you do a chromate finish that is close to cad when you are done.
I knew real cadmium plating was not going to be offered in a kit, as Cadmium is WAY toxic.

[srbakker]

I was actually thinking bronze as I'd like to do a few accents in bronze or maybe copper, but I would also like to try the nickel and zinc kits.  I just don't want to buy a giant set of supplies for each type of plating, since I'm looking at a few small pieces tops for each finish.  I may just have to talk to someone locally instead.

[Goofaroo]

Here's another source. They may have something you can use.

http://www.eastwood.com/specialty-coatings/electroplating.html

[jamesb]

eastwood has great products i know the frame paint they sell is excellent 32.00 a can but worth every penny.