Last Updated on Saturday, 23 October 2010 15:12 Written by Mik Thursday, 03 June 2010 17:01

How to chrome your nuts.

I have now got all the items I need to Chrome my nuts.

They are.

power pack (Voltage/Ampage)

chemical (Copy Chrome crystals)

degreaser wash

copper piping and wire

heater

buckets

de-mineralised water

Brightener

 

 

I have added the de-mineralised water to the buckets and added the Chromate crystals to the water,

I then have to let this stand for a few days so that all of the crystals dissolve.

I added the anode to the bucket solution, I cut a strip most of the way along the anode and bent it over so that it sticks out of the bucket, its important that the crocodile clip that attached from the positive on the power pack does no contact the solution.

 

 

I made up some copper wire that I stripped the ends off on one end I fixed an alligator clip and the other went to the power pack.

There is a positive and negative terminal on the power pack, the positive goes to the anode and the negative goes to the cathode.

I then cut off some copper tubing and hammered the ends flat, these go across the top of the bucket which has the solution in.

The cathode in this case is the nuts/bolts hanging off the cooper pipe tube.

 

 

 

The most important part is the preparation of the items to be coated, I leave them in some dilute sulphuric acid overnight, then I wash them in the degreaser.

This next picture is what the screws look like after cleaning and etching.

 

The nuts and bolts are fastened to the wire thread.

 

The voltage of the power pack unit is dialed all the way up high and the amperage is moved to around 1.2 amps, the parts were left in the bucket for around 20 minutes The results so far have been disappointing, I was expecting them to come out nice and shiny, instead I have a very good even coating of a grey all over the parts. My wife has said the part now looks like its plastic. You need to check your setting because the ampage depends on the sq inches of parts your are coating, the more you coat, the higher the ampage.

Maybe this wasn't the kit I thought it was, maybe its like a zinc type coating. I have sent a email off to try and find what I am doing wrong or if I have the wrong kit.

I did find some info on forums etc that I need brightener, anyway the person who I bought the kit off has just replied to my email and yes I do need a brightener. so looking forward to tomorrow.

I received some brightener today

I have added the brightener to the crystals and then proceeded to coat the spacer that sits between the bearings in the front wheel, the outside rear wheel spacer and the collar that sits on the side of the front wheel speedo cable.

I am glad to say that the result was quite successful, going from a rusty colour to a mid shiny colour.

 

Its not as bright as chrome but shiny non the less, All I have done is give the parts a good rub down with a brass wire brush.

I will be getting a buff/polisher system tomorrow and will buff up the parts a lot better.

 

All in all a good result and now I dont have to buy new parts, all up its cost $550.00 BUT one part alone (If I had to buy it new) would have cost over $80.00

By the time I have finished coating the parts that I need to cost I will be well in front. The parts should be good for another 10 years or so.

I know I can do better, but really for this project it doesnt really matter because as you know around 90% of the nuts are hidden anyway. But this gives me a new skill in life and I can only practice over the next few years to get better at it.

You cannot overcoat chrome with this system (such as your brake caliper bolts) and if you want to coat over Aluminium then you have to treat the Aluminium first.