| Search our quarter-million Q&As |
Home of the finishing HOTLINE since 1989
-----Shop suddenly plagued with process problems
RFQ: Recently my shop has started dealing with a number of problems in the plating jobs we send out. Spotty anodize, spotty black oxide, bubbling chrome, etc. Problems happen across multiple platers. In my mind it seems it must be a cleanliness issue, but nothing (that I'm aware of) has changed in our processes. I'm cutting some "tickets" of different materials that I'm going to expose to different processes and chemicals in the shop and then send off for plating and see if I can determine a common factor. I've got some Dyne test chemicals coming to try and actually quantify a little more. We are systematically working through variables, but I'm looking for someone experienced that might want to do some consulting to come down and look at what's happening in person and offer perspective in solving our issues. It would be great if that person had some knowledge of automated cleaning systems, because I'm interested in purchasing equipment to that end. Thanks!
Garren King- Orlando, Florida
July 31, 2024
Ed. note: This RFQ is outdated, but technical replies are welcome, and readers are encouraged to post their own RFQs. But no public commercial suggestions please ( huh? why?).
A. Hi Garren.
The first thing I would look at is whether you started using silicone, especially a silicone spray of any sort, anywhere in your shop. Typical pre-cleaning lines for anodizing, black oxiding, and plating are not capable of reliably removing silicone from the parts, which will result in problems regardless of what shop you send them to.
Luck & Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
Sorry! Finishing.com is temporarily Read-Only.
Ted Mooney is retiring but I have several offers to take it over.
We're working hard to make sure we find it the best new home.