Zinc plating details.

My zinc plating is done in house using very simple plastic pails for the various baths. A battery charger throttled with a small 12v bulb supplies current.
I find the plating facility very handy. For example, I can dismantle parts of the bike for repair and while I'm working on the pieces, the rusty old bolts and bits can be freshened up in the plating bath. It gives a useful pleasing improvement in appearance that gets noticed.

Some of the items plated, ready for assembly

 

Three Barrel studs ready, compared to an unplated one. Only the ends were visible on assembly but worth the effort.

 

Pic taken during assembly. Barrel nuts were parkerized replica items.

 

The electrolyte came from Caswell plating way back in the 90's but should a replacement be needed I'm going to try a DIY formula. Vinegar, Epsom salts and sugar. Zinc strip is available as a roof maintenance aid also from marine/boat shops and scrap metal dealers..

 

The set up is very basic..

The various baths from right 2:1 HCL acid, 10:1 HCL acid, plating tank.

 A simple battery charger on 12V supplies current. Water bath is for washing.

A crude but effective current limiting device is the small bulb (top left). Also serves as an indicator of current flow.

 

An old plastic drink bottle currently serves as the plating tank. I chose this because at the time I needed a deeper vessel for an extra long item. Simple alligator clips attach anode and cathode. Positive to zinc bar via light bulb, negative to job. In the foreground are spare zinc pieces.
Nothing complicated here...