Topic: Scott Drake 67 Dash Ashtray

[ruppstang]

Very nice! Bill I may have to ask for your help on one some time.

[Bossbill]

I need a bigger power supply. That was tough.

[J_Speegle]

Here's what I did.

Your really getting into all of this plating and such

Looking good and your sharing allot - Thanks

[OldGuy]

I need a bigger power supply. That was tough.

I'm curious as to how "big" (output) of a power supply you feel you need? How much current did you have available to do your ashtray (which looks great, by the way?

Frank

[Bossbill]

Your really getting into all of this plating and such

Looking good and your sharing allot - Thanks

Jeff -- I try to share so others can see it's possible. Plus, if I get it wrong you guys will let me know about it!

Every original nut, bolt, screw and washer is getting plated, POed or back to natural. Sure there are some items too degraded but I'm trying to put all the fasteners back into their original hole.
It's a bit Zen.  Watch the bubbles, set the timer then take a peek now and again.
After plating they get blown dry under very low pressure (10?) and then under a 1500 watt infrared to dry.
I have a large vent hood (yeah, like a lab vent hood) and I wear an acid mask the whole day. Hi wrist 7MM nitrile gloves. Glasses. I sound like Darth Vader all day.

I'm curious as to how "big" (output) of a power supply you feel you need? How much current did you have available to do your ashtray (which looks great, by the way?

Frank

Plating is square inch related. I can tell by the amount of bubbles that I didn't have either enough output or too many square inches. If you crank the amperage small parts bubble like crazy and almost froth. They literally fry. Too little and almost no bubbles. I was at the minimum bubbles at max output which means time to plate is way up and the deposits aren't very thick. These DC power supplies are constant current (CC) so you set the initial Volts at about 3 and then set the Amperage. Close the circuit and the Volts vary to keep the Amperage constant.
Out with my 5A CC power supply and I'm trying a 10A CC next. Should be here near the end of the week.

[OldGuy]

Plating is square inch related. I can tell by the amount of bubbles that I didn't have either enough output or too many square inches. If you crank the amperage small parts bubble like crazy and almost froth. They literally fry. Too little and almost no bubbles. I was at the minimum bubbles at max output which means time to plate is way up and the deposits aren't very thick. These DC power supplies are constant current (CC) so you set the initial Volts at about 3 and then set the Amperage. Close the circuit and the Volts vary to keep the Amperage constant.
Out with my 5A CC power supply and I'm trying a 10A CC next. Should be here near the end of the week.
[/quote]

Thanks for your reply, Bill. The reason that I asked about the limits of your power supply is that I've not tried to plate anything that has as much surface area as your ash tray. I too have a 5 amp power supply so now I have a better feel for its limitations. In the future I'm going to attempt to plate a caliper half which has a relatively large surface area. It looks like a 5 amper won't cut the mustard.

Frank

[Bossbill]

Frank -- The calipers were also silver painted. I bought a can of Eastwood silver high temp exhaust manifold paint and I really like the look.

I will report back on the higher amp unit.