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-----Nickel Plating Steel Sheet
2007
Hello, I am a hobby machinist, and make miniature internal combustion engines. I have been copper plating for a short time, getting pretty good results, except on steel. I make valve covers and oil pans out of sheet steel, using homemade dies and a hydraulic press. Since these parts often see moderately high temperatures, painting is not usually an option, and on top of that, it just doesn't look as good.
I have experimented with nickel plating, using the following solution:
1 gallon distilled water
30oz nickel sulphate
8oz nickel chloride
1 oz. boric acid
I at first used canadian quarters (1968-1999), with a hole drilled in them and suspended in the solution, as anodes. This worked very well, but I'm not big into destroying currency. I am wondering if I can use a commercial purity nickel rod, Alloy 200 from Mcmaster-Carr, as anode material. It is 99.4% purity. I have also experimented with several brighteners, Saccharin, Coumarin, and Formaldehyde, all of which are readily available, if not inexpensive. since I started using canadian nickels, I have had pleasing results, but the nickel rod anodes would be much much better from a financial point of view.
Essentially, I'm asking what level of purity is required for nickel plating anodes. Any help would be appreciated. Yes, I am disposing of my solutions in accordance with local laws. (my university handles the leftover solution, in exchange for my work in the chem lab machine shop)
hobbyist - Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA
2007
Jake,
99.97% purity is the norm for nickel sulphate solutions. With a very small operation have you considered nickel Hull Cell ⇦ huh?
anodes? You can get them at lab supply houses in your area.
Process Engineer - Syracuse, New York
Ask Ted for my Email address. I have a couple of nickel "swords" of rolled depolarized nickel anodes that should work quite well for you. You should use anode bags ⇦ huh? on these. Fine dacron will work OK and use poly thread. You should also have a filter pump on your system for good work. The anodes are free, but you have to pre pay for shipping and handling.
James Watts- Navarre, Florida
2007
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