Summary for brass plating on zinc die cast Discussion
brass plating on zinc die cast component is possible, but the answer depends on who is doing the work and what equipment is available. Sandeep Aggarwal asked how to plate a zinc die casting finial head used in hinges. The reply notes that if “we” means students, brass plating is a bad idea because brass plating solutions are cyanide-based and therefore too dangerous for a student lab. If “we” means a plating shop, the responder says there should be no special difficulty plating zinc die castings from a cyanide-based brass bath. The suggested process is a cyanide copper strike first, followed by cyanide brass plating. The answerer also asks for clarification on whether this is a student project or a shop project.
Q. How can we do plating on a zinc die casting component like a finial head used in hinges?
Sandeep Aggarwal
Student – New Delhi, India
2004
A. Hello, Sandeep. Got a mouse in your pocket? :-)
(That was Warren Beatty’s classic way of asking, in some old movie or other, “Who do you mean by ‘we’?”)
If by ‘we’, you mean you and your lab partner, that is a definite problem since brass plating solutions are cyanide-based, which is far too dangerous for students! But if by ‘we’ you mean a plating shop that you are interning at, I don’t think there would be any special difficulties in plating the die castings out of a cyanide-based brass plating solution. Probably a cyanide copper strike followed by cyanide brass plating would be best. Good luck with the project! And if you get a chance, please clarify whether this was a student project or a plating shop project.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
2004