Re: Caswell copy cad plating question...
Greg,
I think that power supply should do the job for a larger part like the fuel pump base, or up to 120 square inches both sides. Just set the volts first, the move the amps up until you have a slight effervescent or just below. If it plates well with effervescence then that's the way to go.
I'm not a big fan of the Caswell brightener, I tried it on my initial mixes but you never know when it wears out, and you maybe stuck with bright plating when you maybe want dull. You can always buff a dull plating out to bright, and this is what I always plan on doing for bright, both before and after plating. I use a Nylon wheel.
As far as agitation, I've tried the aquarium air pump with a porous stone at the bottom of the tank. Pain in the neck. Just try mixing the tank up once in a while with a spatula. All you are trying to do is prevent gas bubbles from collecting on a flat or concave bottom. Also important to move the part around during plating. The area of the part closest to the anode plate gets the most plating.
Also important is temperature control. Try to keep as close to the 110 degrees for the Caswell spec.
Jerry Fuccillo
#42179
Greg,
I think that power supply should do the job for a larger part like the fuel pump base, or up to 120 square inches both sides. Just set the volts first, the move the amps up until you have a slight effervescent or just below. If it plates well with effervescence then that's the way to go.
I'm not a big fan of the Caswell brightener, I tried it on my initial mixes but you never know when it wears out, and you maybe stuck with bright plating when you maybe want dull. You can always buff a dull plating out to bright, and this is what I always plan on doing for bright, both before and after plating. I use a Nylon wheel.
As far as agitation, I've tried the aquarium air pump with a porous stone at the bottom of the tank. Pain in the neck. Just try mixing the tank up once in a while with a spatula. All you are trying to do is prevent gas bubbles from collecting on a flat or concave bottom. Also important to move the part around during plating. The area of the part closest to the anode plate gets the most plating.
Also important is temperature control. Try to keep as close to the 110 degrees for the Caswell spec.
Jerry Fuccillo
#42179
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