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I just purchased a 1 gallon Caswell Copy Cad system. What is the best way to re-plate a hand full of small nuts and bolts? Can I make some type of wire basket? How do you mask off parts, like threads on nuts and bolts, so they don't get re-plated?
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Re: Copy Cad System Questions
I plated the threads on everything. I don't think that you are putting on enough to make any difference. I did not try plating all the small, less than 1/4", hardware myself. I either bought new or sent it out to a plater as I think that you would have to do each one, one at a time.
It is only abut $75 to plate a basket of parts. I only filled about 1/3 of a basket with 95% of the parts on my 56. I used the Caswell system for the parts that I missed, or was afraid to lose at a plater, the first time around.
BTW, I threw the power supply that comes with their system away. I needed something that would supply more current to get it to work at all.
good luck
Dave Christensen -
Re: Copy Cad System Questions
I think you would have to leave the part in the tank a long time to build up enough material to adversly affect the threads. I used the Caswell kit as I did not want to mix up all my carefully baged and labled nuts and bolts by sending them to the plater.
I thought about making a basket like your considering, instead I strung up several parts on separate wires and plated them at the same time. If the parts were small I would suspend several nuts, washers or bolts from one wire. The trick was trying to get the current right for the surface area of the parts I was putting in the tank. I finally determined that I got a more consistant plate by leaving a decent sized steel bar hanging in the tank with the other smaller parts. The added surface area reduced the need to fine tune current.
Also, clean parts are critical.Comment
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Re: Copy Cad System Questions
Joe
I also use the Caswell system. I run a steel rod across the top of the tank and hang as many bolts from the rod with wires. I figure that each bolt is about 1 sq. inch requiring about 25 ma per bolt. If I can't reduce the current enough to get the correct current for what I am plating, I put a "robber" strip cut from the anode material into the tank attached to the cathode bar. I cut a strip 1 inch wide and marke off 1 inch increments from top to bottom. I can then judge how many sq inches are in the tank on this strip. By using anode material I am not wasting any of the expensive anode material. I can always use the "robber" strip as an anode later. I have found that the most critical things are cleaning the parts to be plated very well, correct current, and correct temperature of the electrolyte.
Hope this helps.
Jeff SalzComment
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