Plating fasteners

[Biba <biba@domain.elided>]

**************
Tim Lentz writes:
 I would like to have "new" looking hardware on my newly rebuilt engine
 and differential.
***************

Tim, my plater refers to the gold plating as irridite and the silver
simply as cadium plating. Just look up plating in the Yellow Pages and
tell them what you want. After enough use, though, they both will
eventually rust if not cared for.

The cost is pretty reasonable. When I take in a handful it's $40. When I
take in a box full, it's $40. However, it does make the material
somewhat brittle. If you're including lock washers, springs, etc., keep
them separate and have them heat it first. It will probably be another
$40 for that. I generally throw in a bunch of extra lock washers and
take my chances.

Normally they tumble it and it comes out dull. If you want the parts to
be shiny, tell them not to tumble. I also suggest (you'll thank yourself
later) you run taps and dies on your nuts and bolts. They'll not only
now look better, they'll go on easier.

Also, if you have a lot of rusty stuff, I suggest you use a brass
buffing brush to clean them up. The plater throws everything in a vat
(of acid I presume) and it cleans them up pretty well, but not deep
rust.

One last thing, do you remember where everything came off? For the most
part critical nuts and bolts are pretty obvious - head nuts (acorn
type), etc. However, it's really easy to "come up short". I measure and
log in every nut, washer, bolt, etc. Doubt if few others bother with
that though.

Biba
Irwindale CA
AlfaCyberSite http://home.earthlink.net/~biba

------------------------------