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legend: '( date )' = most recent entry,
open Q. = question not answered yet
0. CORROSION, COMPATIBILITY, CHOOSING A FINISH . . .
• Zinc-nickel Plating vs. Zinc Flake Dip-Spin Coating (April 21) open Q.
• Coating for low electrical resistance, but high corrosion resistance and wear resistance (April 11)
Need conductive material that will bond to stainless steel (March 28)
• Plate warps and needs to be stronger and polished (March 23) open Q.
How to finish wrought iron railings (March 19)
• Repairing titanium shafts by plating or hardcoating (March 8)
What is this finish? (March 6) open Q.
• Corrosion resistant coating for C45 Material (March 3)
• How to protect Beryllium Copper from corrosion by Ammonia (March 1) open Q.
Does bronze corrode Cr-Mo-V steel? (February 17) open Q.
• Stainless Steel or Galvanized fasteners for Aluminum Siding (February 17) open Q.
• How to avoid rust (February 9)
• Best solution to prevent tarnish on silver plated small accessories? (February 3)
• Which substitute for hard chromium plating? (February 2) open Q.
• PTFE thin film coating of 316L Stainless steel parts exposed to sulfuric acid (January 27) open Q.
Alternatives to gold plating for Zari thread (January 24) open Q.
Building a scintillator. How to get a bright/reflective surface? (January 13)
Plating/Coating/Finishing Metal Charms (December 13)
Affordable copper infrared reflector high temperature transparent coating (November 30)
Galvanic compatible material mating to Aluminum and Nickel (November 30)
What base/substrate material for gold plated electrodes? (November 21)
What spring material is resistant to 30% HCl? (November 14)
Establishing a standard for matte black finish (November 11)
Want rainbow iridescent coating (November 10) open Q.
Nitrile Rubber not bonding properly to mild steel pipe (November 8) open Q.
Need zinc-gold plating on stainless steel RFQ (November 3)
Want gold colored finishes without use of gold (October 29)
• What happens to stainless spring if attached to part while it's zinc plated? (October 29) open Q.
1. PREPARATION . . .
1a. MECHANICAL PREP [GRINDING, POLISHING, VIBRATORY FINISHING, BUFFING, HONING]
• How important is variable speed for a tumbler? (April 8)
• Formula for polishing and buffing compounds (March 16)
• How to Mirror Finish Alumina Ceramics (March 13)
• Need formula to make solid & liquid polishing compound for metal polishing (February 26) open Q.
• Looking for linear grinding/finishing tool practical for non-production use open Q. (January 16)
Ra vs. Rz: Ra keeps growing, Rz stays the same? (January 2)
• Deburring of Aluminum components (November 22)
Polishing Stainless Steel to a Mirror Finish (November 20)
1b. PRETREATMENTS [CLEANING, PICKLING, ETCHING, PHOSPHATIZING, ACTIVATION]
• Zinc Phosphate coating problems (April 8) open Q.
• Cleaning copper discoloration from baking (March 30)
• Problems and solutions in zinc phosphating (March 25)
• How to etch silver without affecting aluminum? (March 5)
Want good salt spray hours from phosphating without oil (March 1)
Rack marks in zinc phosphating open Q. (February 4)
• Dip vs. Spray Phosphating (January 11)
• Carbon Smut Problems in Plating; Pretreatment for Adhesion (December 21)
• Chemical removal of heat treating scale and oxides open Q. (December 7)
• Pretreatment for ZnTi alloy. 95% Zn, 5% Ti open Q. (November 29)
• Manganese phosphating or black oxide on S7 tool steel & gun parts (November 12)
• Unusual reaction of Bohler K390 steel to phosphoric acid open Q. (November 11)
• Pickling and Passivating of Welded Carbon Steel Pipes (November 6)
• 718 nickel parts discolor when pickled after EDM (November 6)
1c. MASKING, RACKING, TAPING, PLUGGING, PHOTOSENSITIVE MASKS
White lines along masked edges when selectively stripping zinc galvanized steel (March 8) open Q.
Masking for Silver Plating Inside Hollow Aluminum Cylinders (January 24)
• Masking of keyways when anodizing & electroplating (November 27)
2. INORGANIC FINISHING PROCESSES . . .
2a. STAINLESS STEEL & TITANIUM PROCESSING
• Hydrofluoric / Nitric acid etching/pickling of P.H. stainless steel (April 18) open Q.
• Coloring round type 304 stainless steel wire permanently (April 12)
• How to recognize passivation frosting? (April 8) open Q.
• Passivation leaves yellow or brown spots on 303 stainless (March 19)
• Oxalate Conversion Coating for Stainless Steel (March 15) open Q.
• Amps, Volts, Temp. & Time required for electropolishing? (March 12)
• Ferritic stainless steel surface finishing (February 24)
• Citric vs. Nitric Acid Passivation of Stainless Steel (February 11)
• Electropolish, Passivate, or Chemical Polish 4140 & 4340 Steel? (February 10)
• Rinsing after Stainless Steel Passivation (February 4)
Acids for electropolishing stainless steel (February 3)
• Problems with passivation and salt spray testing of 15-5 PH stainless steel (February 1)
• Will grit size affect passivation of stainless steel? open Q. (January 29)
• Anodizing of titanium with stainless steel attached (December 31)
Need durable black coating for stainless steel (December 21)
• Do I have to passivate after mag particle inspection? (December 10)
• Formulation or Citric or Sulfamic acid pickling solution for 12L14? (December 2)
• Sodium Dichromate passivation (ASTM A967) Q&As (November 24)
• Baffling Citric Acid passivation bath issue
Inquirer often helps others, so especially deserves help
2b. ANODIZING AND LIGHT METAL TREATMENTS (Aluminum, Magnesium)
Sandblasting and Anodizing Leaves Bright Spot (April 20) open Q.
• MIL-DTL-5541 Type I vs. Type II (TCP) issue (April 19) open Q.
• Want dip process for brightening bare aluminum (April 19) open Q.
Brown discoloration after clear anodizing (April 18) open Q.
Pitting in Aluminum Threads after Alodine (April 16)
Problem clear anodizing MIC-6 material (April 16)
• What is the Alcoa Alumilite 226 process and what shops offer it? (April 15) open Q.
• Electropolishing of aluminum: concentration and chemical make up (April 13)
• Electropolishing of Aluminum vs Bright-dip (April 13)
• Amps & volts jump around as chromic acid anodizing hits 40 volts (April 12)
• Severe erosion anodizing 7075 aluminum (April 4) open Q.
Etching turned Aluminum Black (March 28)
Okay to anodize small loads and largely empty racks? (March 27)
• Which is the best way to solve the micron issue? (March 23)
Aluminum bright dip problems (March 19)
Beadblasting aluminum plus brite dipping is causing pitting (March 15) open Q.
Problems Black Anodizing 5052 Aluminum (March 15)
• Pulse anodizing rectifier settings? (March 14) open Q.
Black spots in anodized aluminum profile (March 10) open Q.
• Anodizing Racks: what material of construction? (March 9)
• Sudden drop in Alodine concentration (March 5)
• Can Cast Aluminum be Anodized? (March 4)
• Anodizing Coefficient of Friction? (March 2) open Q.
Spotting on aluminum parts with chromate finish (March 1) open Q.
• White corrosion on anodized job after salt spray test (February 25)
Numerous Type II Aluminum Anodizing Defects: White Spots, Missing Color, Ink Stains (February 24) open Q.
• Anodized Part Absorbs Grease into Oxide Layer Near Edges (February 23) open Q.
• Problems with Color of Hardcoat Anodize (February 23)
• How to etch and color anodized aluminum (February 18) open Q.
• How much air agitation for Hard Anodizing of Aluminum (February 17)
Anodizing seal issue on bead blasted areas (February 17)
• Micropitting issue chromate conversion coating of Aluminum (February 15)
How to eliminate anodizing appearance variations (February 9)
• Anodizing Color Fades in Autoclave (February 5)
• Water stain prevention for aluminum (February 5)
Anodizing Appearance Problem on Silkscreened Panels open Q. (January 27)
• Aluminum piping underground. How to do corrosion protection? (January 11)
Dissolved Aluminum in Anodizing bath -- How Much to Have, How to Analyze/Titrate, How to Correct/Adjust It (January 10)
High Dielectric Anodizing of Aluminum (January 6)
Galvanic potential of aluminum after conversion coating (January 4)
• Aluminum anodizing: Constant current vs. controlling the voltage open Q. (December 28)
• Anodizing vs. e-coating of aluminum (December 22)
Anodizing 7075 & 7xxx aluminum. Problems & Solutions, Q&A's open Q. (December 22)
• Which coating for magnesium parts to protect against corrosion? open Q. (December 18)
• Adding sulfuric acid additions while anodizing (December 11)
• Salt Spray Test after Hard Anodising (December 9)
• Zincate doesn't stick to aluminum bus bar from some suppliers (December 9)
• Energy savings in high temperature Type II anodizing (December 5)
Shot Blast Aluminum Casting for Dark Color (December 2)
Beadblasted aluminium dark shadows when anodised (December 2)
• Sharp edges not anodising and dyeing (November 25)
• Brushed, glossy anodizing on 70's & 80's HiFi Front Panels? open Q. (November 22)
• Applications for room-temperature hard anodizing open Q. (November 20)
• Two new polymer-based seals for anodized Aluminum: Non-Hazardous, No metals open Q. (November 19)
Sulfuric Anodized 2024 Al turning Pink open Q. (November 19)
• Non nitric acid baths for bright dipping aluminum open Q. (November 14)
• PVDF over 25 micron anodising open Q. (November 10)
Sulfuric Acid Anodizing Type IIB procedure & problems (November 10)
• Aluminum cathodes for anodizing tanks (November 6)
• Parameters for Pulse Hardcoat Anodizing 2xxx Aluminum (November 1)
2c. ELECTROPLATING and ELECTROFORMING
Nickel plating white patches and dullness (April 21)
• Copper Pyrophosphate Delaminating from Strike (April 19) open Q.
White patches in acid zinc plating (April 17) open Q.
Silver plating on copper wire is not shiny and white (April 16) open Q.
• Black spots in zinc plating (April 16)
• Current density required for chrome plating (April 16)
• Hard Chrome Fails Salt Spray Test if it's Ground (April 15) open Q.
• Substitute/Alternate/Replacement for Rhodium Plating (April 14) open Q.
• Ingredients for chrome (April 12)
• Hard chrome plating problem: dull gray plating (April 8)
• Zinc plating thickness for 500-hour salt spray? open Q. (April 8)
Tin Plated Copper parts black smear/residue (April 8) open Q.
• Cadmium plating problem: pits, even on Hull Cell panels (April 7)
Marks in tin plated copper bus bar (April 6) open Q.
Zinc plating defects (Quality of metal finishing) (March 30)
• Converting zinc plating bath to zinc-nickel (March 29) open Q.
• Chrome Plating Problems on Gravure Printing Cylinders/Rolls (March 28) open Q.
Zinc-plating appearance problems (March 28) open Q.
• Hard chrome plating: Volts, Amps, Anode-to-Cathode Distance (March 28) open Q.
Cyanide bleedout in Silver Plating of Brass Castings (March 27) open Q.
• Zinc plating turns black in weld area (March 26)
• Problem holding Zinc concentration in alkaline Zinc plating bath (March 26)
Acid zinc plating is dark grey and black (March 25)
• Electroplating with Brass (Electrodeposition of Brass) (March 24)
• Installing a black chrome plating plant (March 16) open Q.
• Plating chrome on a nickel substrate (March 12)
• Peel off problem from semi bright nickel (March 9)
• Help repairing chrome cylinder rods (March 8)
White bronze plating problems (March 1) open Q.
Acid Copper Plating Problems (March 1) open Q.
• Zn blue passivation turns yellowish (March 1) open Q.
Marks and hazy spots after gold plating jewelry (February 26) open Q.
• Electroplating of iron onto bismuth shot (February 26) open Q.
• Problem in grinding Hard Chrome plating (February 25) open Q.
• Tin plating anode problems (February 25)
White patches in Chrome Plating (February 23) open Q.
Purplish brown discoloration of gold plating (February 23) open Q.
• Restoring gold Iridite color to diecast parts (February 21) open Q.
Haze on Ni-Cr plating surface (February 20)
• Economical iron electroplating; How to make up ferrous sulfate solution (February 19) open Q.
Chrome plated hydraulic cylinder rods have pits (February 15)
• Nickel plating is coming out black (February 15)
Pits, Stain marks on Nickel Plating open Q. (February 15)
• What makes up silver plating solution? open Q. (February 15)
• Plating of Rare-earth Neodymium Magnets (February 12)open Q.
Inquirer often helps others, so especially deserves help
• Alkaline Zinc Nickel Plating of Hardened Steels open Q. (February 9)
• Q&A: Tin plated parts turn yellowish (February 4)
• What types of plating can be done in a barrel? open Q. (January 30)
Zinc electroplating with yellow passivation is dull open Q. (January 30)
• My brass plating is nickel color instead of yellow open Q. (January 29)
• Zinc-Nickel Plating is 'silver' color in Black Passivation bath open Q. (January 29)
Plating both outside AND inside of a tube open Q. (January 22)
Tin-Silver Electroplating over Copper Pillar Bump open Q. (January 20)
Manufacturing Process of Nickel Sulphate and Nickel Chloride (January 20)
Black Nickel Bath Formula for Barrel Plating (January 18)
• Emissivity value for Cadmium plated steel and Zinc Plated Steel open Q. (January 16)
• White Patches in Trivalent Chrome Plating open Q. (January 15)
• Can lack of ZnCl2 additions cause chloride zinc roughness? open Q. (January 12)
• Hard Chrome Plating Additives? HEEF Advantages? MSA? (January 12)
• How thick is the chromate on zinc-nickel plating? open Q. (January 11)
• How to do brass plating on stainless steel (January 11)
• How much voltage and amperage for barrel acid zinc plating? open Q. (January 11)
Need to touch up Cadmium plate (January 6)
• Black spots on zinc plated parts with trivalent chromate open Q. (December 26)
• Water marks in alkaline zinc plating open Q. (December 22)
• Thiourea and Polyethylene Glycol for acid copper plating additives (December 23)
• Hard Chrome Plating on Aluminum Q&A;s, Problems & Solutions (December 21)
Stain Issues Gold Plating 3 Microns on Sterling Silver open Q. (December 21)
• Recommended tin plating thickness on bus bars? open Q. (December 16)
• Gold plating of aluminum open Q. (December 15)
• Gold plate on brass with pen/brush plater? open Q. (December 14)
• Bronze Plating for Watch Components RFQ (December 14)
• Iron contamination in zinc-nickel plating tank open Q. (December 13)
• Nickel Contamination of Gold Bath without a known source open Q. (December 11)
• Will silver dissolve in cyanide without rectifier current? open Q. (December 7)
• Gold plated aluminum blisters when baked open Q. (December 7)
• Nickel plating on leaded steel bubbles at soldering temperature (December 5)
• Peel off in hard chrome plating after chemical additions open Q. (December 2)
• Process detail for electroplating diamond coating RFQ (November 30)
• Non-Uniform Nickel Plating Deposit (November 28)
• Brighteners for Gold Plating open Q. (November 28)
• Adhesion issue between electroless nickel and cyanide silver plating open Q. (November 28)
• Turn iron into gold color (November 27)
• Need chromate-based anti-tarnish for silver plating RFQ (November 25)
• Zinc Plating with Black Passivation comes off during handling (November 24)
Chromate Rubs Off open Q. (November 24)
Best electrically conductive plating for mild steel rodent traps? (November 24)
• Problem Dissolving Aluminum Mandrel after Electroforming on It (November 24)
Zinc plating on Zamak blisters & peels open Q. (November 22)
• What causes blistering of nickel plated parts? (November 19)
How to achieve iridescent finish on zinc plated steel (November 18)
• Black chromate on cadmium rubs right off open Q.(November 12)
• Reducing chloride concentration in acid copper bath open Q. (November 9)
• Shelf Life of Tin Electroplate open Q. (November 2)
2d. ELECTROLESS PLATING, PLATING ON PLASTICS, IMMERSION PLATING, CHROME-LOOK SPRAYS, LIQUID METAL COATINGS
• Plating of ABS Plastics; palladium and electroless nickel issues (April 21) open Q.
• "Dot Skip" Problem in Plating of ABS Plastic (April 21)
• Decomposition/Plate-out of Electroless Nickel Plating Bath (April 5)
• What is the wetting agent for silvering of vinyl LP records? (March 30) open Q.
• Thermal cycle Test on ABS (March 15) open Q.
Chrome plating peels off of electroless nickel (March 6)
• Plating Ultem 2300 and Composite Plastics (March 6) open Q.
• Palladium activation for EN Problems & Solutions (February 22) open Q.
• Problem doing EN on stainless with only non-magnetic plating (February 10)
• Silver plating with silver nitrate open Q. (February 9)
• Nickel Plating with Boron Nitride Particles (January 22)
• Black Stain in blind & threaded holes of electroless nickel plating (January 15)
• Mid Electroless nickel on Brass against an 6000 series Aluminium? open Q. (January 13)
• Solder turns black and takes no Electroless Nickel open Q. (December 7)
• Difference in meaning between: ENIG vs Immersion Gold vs Chemical Gold (December 7)
• Barrel plating on plastics: EN comes off in copper plating step open Q. (November 24)
Formula for electroless nickel plating solution open Q. (November 19)
White Stains and Unplated areas in EN Plating open Q. (November 16)
2e. PVD, CVD, ION IMPLANTATION, VACUUM PROCESSES
• How to get colors with PVD? (April 18)
• How to get Jet Black PVD finish (March 5)
• PVD coating on SS wire (August 20)
2f. GALVANIZING, ALUMINIZING, HOT TIN DIPPING
• Wiping system for continuous wire galvanizing? open Q. (December 19)
Sulfuric Acid Solution Recovery Q&A (April 10) open Q.
• How Can I Reduce and Remove Zinc Dross (April 6) open Q.
• Need to build a Hot-Dip Galvanizing Kettle (April 2) open Q.
• Galvanising - Reduce & Recover Zinc Ash and Dross (March 18) open Q.
• Alternatives to hot dip galvanizing for a small shop (March 12)
• Titanium and Lead in hot dip galvanising (March 3) open Q.
Rough & lumpy low quality galvanizing (February 22) open Q.
• How do we tolerance and gauge galvanized fasteners? open Q. (February 11)
• Is galvanized steel appropriate for water/glycol mix? open Q. (February 10)
• What degreasing & flux for HDG of lighting poles? (January 26)
Roughness in Hot Dip Galvanizing Process (December 14)
• Pre-Galvanized Sheet vs. Post-Galvanized Components (November 30)
Re-galvanizing Worn or Partially Galvanized Steel open Q. (November 27)
• Why can't we add pure aluminum to galvanizing kettle? (November 27)
2g. BLACK OXIDE, BLUING, COLORING, PATINATING, NITRIDING
• My caustic bluing solutions gets weak (March 10) 2nd Request open Q.
• How do you use wax coating at end of Black oxide process open Q. (February 8)
• How to make black golf putter heads? (January 30)
• Does black oxide add hardness? (January 11)
• Best Alternative to Black Oxide Finishing open Q. (January 5)
• Black oxided stainless fails salt spray, but supplier says it passed when supplied open Q. (November 2)
• How to give steel a dull appearance open Q. (November 1)
2h. OTHER INORGANIC FINISHING: Mechanical Plating, QPQ, Metal Spray, Zinc-rich Dip-Spin Coatings, Sherardizing, etc.
• Cost Estimating for S442 Zinc-rich Dip-spin Coatings (February 9)
• Thermal Diffusion Coating Process (September 14)
• Anodizing Tungsten Carbide for Electrical Insulation open Q. (July 23)
3. ORGANIC FINISHING PROCESSES . . .
3a. ELECTROPAINT PRIMING, AUTOPHORETIC COATINGS
• Which pumps & membranes are best for CED bath? (April 13) open Q.
• Defects in CED Coating (April 12)
• How to Increase DFT Paint Thickness in Cathodic Electrodeposition (CED) system? open Q. (March 28)
• Sizing an e-coating rectifier (March 9) open Q.
Book or notes for PT CED (February 2)
• CED System Issues: Recovering paint, Ultrafiltration problems open Q. (February 1)
Defects in CED Coating open Q. (December 28)
CED coating has pinholes open Q. (December 22)
• CED Paint conductivity is dropping open Q. (November 12)
3b. POWDER COATING
• How to Powder Coat Plastics (Nylon, ABS, Polycarbonate, Composites) (April 15) open Q.
• The best pre-treatment process for Aluminum alloys to be Powder Coated (March 4) open Q.
• Aluminum pretreatment for powder coating (March 3) open Q.
• Brake caliper coating Q&A: Paint over anodizing & electrocoating? (February 21)
• Surface Treatments For Aluminum Concrete Forms (January 29)
• Powder coating reclaim -- does anybody take recycled waste powder? (January 15)
• Aqua Blasting before Powder Coating open Q. (January 8)
• Candy color powder looks great on chrome plating but not on imitation chrome powder open Q. (December 17)
• Is it necessary to wash paintlok prior to powder coating? open Q. (December 10)
• Salt spray life of powder coating mild steel sheet after shot blasting surface treatment (November 27)
• Powder coating onto zinc-iron plating open Q. (November 11)
3c. LACQUERS, CLEAR COATS, ELECTROPHORETIC TINTING, ANTI-TARNISH
• Coatings for metal spectacle frames (March 16) open Q.
• Preserving bright copper using benzotriazole solution (March 14) open Q.
Applying Colors to Nickel Plating (February 26) RFQ
Clear coating for for exterior steel open Q. (January 22)
Clear coating to seal a rust patina finish on metal (December 14)
• Polymer Coating of Sterling Silver as an Anti-tarnish Treatment open Q. (October 10)
3d. PAINTING, PRINTING, ADHESIVES AND OTHER ORGANIC COATINGS
• Do we need to clean paintlok ductwork before dryfall painting? (March 4) open Q.
• Paints for power transformers (February 19) open Q.
• Epoxy bleed-out problem on matrix leadframe open Q. (February 8)
• Poor adhesion of paint to aluminum open Q. (January 27)
Plastisol Mixing Formula: Q&A on Improvements open Q. (January 24)
Painting of flexible polyurethane and vinyl objects open Q. (November 10)
4. POST-TREATMENTS
4a. CHEMICAL POST-TREATMENTS [CHROMATE CONVERSION COATINGS, RUST PREVENTATIVES, PATINAS, COLORIZING]
• How to Passivate Copper (March 22) open Q.
Clear and yellow trivalent chromates are fine but green gets white colored spots (March 11) open Q.
• Formula for Blue Chromate (Passivation) for Zinc Plating (March 4) open Q.
• Chromate conversion on cadmium not adhering (February 11)
• Paint is peeling from chromated zinc plating (July 26)
Zinc plating with blue chromate has fat brown stripe (June 19)
4b. BAKING AND NON-CHEMICAL POST-TREATMENTS [HYDROGEN EMBRITTLEMENT AND DE-EMBRITTLEMENT, ANNEALING, WHISKERS, SOLDERING, REFLOWING]
• Should we be baking case hardened parts for Hydrogen Embrittlement? (March 24)
• Baked zinc plating vs. zinc without bake (February 12)
• Solderability of tin plate containing intermetallic compounds (November 19)
• Hydrogen embrittlement relief is softening our carburized parts open Q. (October 7)
4c. STRIPPING, REWORKS, ETC.
• Stripping Cadmium plating and choosing a method (April 17)
• Restoring fire-blackened cast brass generator brush-holders (March 11) open Q.
• Removing TiN (Titanium Nitride) coatings with Oxiclean open Q. (December 23)
• Stripping/removing cadmium plating safely open Q. (December 17)
• Issues Stripping Cadmium with Ammonium Nitrate (December 2)
5. SUPPORTING ISSUES
5a. ANALYSIS, LAB TECHNIQUE, Q.A., SALT SPRAY TESTING
• Wood's Nickel Strike Bath Analysis & Maintenance (April 19)
• Analysis of HNO3 & HF in titanium etch (April 18) open Q.
• Interpretation of EDX spectrum result (April 17) open Q.
• Adhesion test for chromate conversion on aluminium (April 10) open Q.
• Analysis of Rocheltex (cyanide copper) plating solutions (April 10) open Q.
• Specific gravity of water plus acid mixture? (April 5)
• Measure saccharin & butynediol concentration in Nickel sulfamate electroforming bath (March 28)
• Thickness measurement of plating plus paint (March 9) open Q.
• How to Analyze Total Solids in Rinse Water? (March 7) open Q.
• Titrimetric procedure for trivalent and hexavalent chromate analysis (March 4)
• Q&As on Operation of ASTM B117 Salt Fog Test Chambers: The Salt Spray Woes open Q. (February 11)
• Chrome plating thickness determination open Q. (February 9)
• Test for cadmium plating open Q. (January 30)
• Lab sink set-up? How to deal with titration waste? open Q. (January 26)
• Spot check for testing for Sn on Al substrate? (January 26)
Measuring cadmium plating thickness magnetically open Q. (January 18)
Copper vs. stainless "Stress Tabs" for Electroless Nickel open Q. (January 16)
• Salt Spray vs. Humidity Test for Passivated Stainless Steel? open Q. (January 16)
• How to calibrate a pH meter for 0.65 and 1.3 pH range (January 10)
• Zinc plating didn't rust in salt spray test, but got thinner open Q. (November 24)
• Anodizing I.D. (internal diameter) of hollow aluminum tubing (November 20)
• Analysis of HF in Mixed Acid Baths (November 19)
• Analysis of metals and acids in Electropolishing Baths for stainless steel open Q. (November 6)
5b. WASTE & WASTEWATER TREATMENT, POLLUTION CONTROL
• Chromium in my Anodizing Waste? (April 19) open Q.
• Wastewater: big spike in Carbon Disulfide open Q. (February 15)
Biological/Algae Growth in Tin Plating Rinse Tanks (February 11)
• Waste Water Treatment of Silica top coats (January 24)
• Wastewater treatment issue: Turbidity problems open Q. (January 19)
• Removing black from anodizing dye rinse open Q. (December 10)
• Alternative uses for high TDS waste from RO system? open Q. (December 7)
Inquirer often helps others, so especially deserves help
• Need photo of chrome tank with mist suppressant please open Q. (November 9)
5c. SAFETY ISSUES, EMISSIONS, TOXICITY, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
• Galvanized chicken wire in popcorn maker (April 17)
• Cyanide, its uses and its dangers (April 12)
Safety of heating chrome to 400 °C (April 8)
• Will heated copper pipe emit cyanide gas or other toxins? (March 13)
• Is it safe to Parkerize cast iron cookware? (March 12)
Toxic Lead and chrome in coffee makers and espresso machines? open Q. (February 20)
• Plating Tank Disposal -- What Are the Rules (February 18) open Q.
• Cadmium and chromate toxicity/safety from aircraft bolts open Q. (February 7)
• Rhodium allergy? open Q. (February 4)
Cause of black mark on skin open Q. (January 21)
• Chromium plated teas strainer scares me ... a lot (November 30)
Can I safely cook my Turkey in galvanized trash can? (November 30)
5d. PLANT & PROCESS ENGINEERING, CONSTRUCTION
• Choosing a plastic for nickel plating line installation (April 20)
• Problems in PVC & PVDF piping systems for sodium hypochlorite (bleach) (April 14) open Q.
• Hard anodizing chiller sizing (April 9)
• RO water causing rust in 316SS spray nozzles (March 25) open Q.
• Electrolytic cleaning - too much hydrogen is causing explosions (March 2)
• Iridium Coated Titanium Anodes: Sources, Anticipated Life, Applications (February 25)
• Plastisol coating of plating racks? How / where? (February 18)
• Flow meters to be used in Tin Electroplating line (February 9)
• Looking to purchase a small zinc electroplating system (January 29)
• Cleaning/leaching a plating tank (January 19)
Corroded Titanium Anode Baskets in Plating Tank (January 14)
• Scale Buildup in Drain Lines of black oxide and aluminum etch open Q. (January 10)
• Barrel plating : long workpiece / nail/spike/screw open Q. (December 22)
• Uses for Graphite Anodes? (December 2)
• Push manifold for open surface tanks (plating shop) (November 5)
5e. QUESTIONS ABOUT SOFTWARE, SPECS, BOOKS, EDUCATION, INDUSTRY STATS, ETC.
• ASTM B-449 and other specs for Chromating Aluminum Q&A's (March 27) open Q.
• Testing adhesion of electroless nickel plating (March 27) open Q.
• Black oxide over cad plated NAS6604 fasteners? (March 12) open Q.
• Overview table of plating and its properties (February 21) open Q.
• Looking for a breakdown of spec.: STD3947, Fe/Zn-Fe8c4 open Q. (February 4)
• Is Nickel Strike allowed before Cadmium plating heat treated bearing steel? (January 14)
Where to find Dr. Alec Watson's paper on Nickel Sulphamate plating (January 12)
• Anodized Aluminum Coating Weight Testing ASTM B137 open Q. (January 8)
Metal Finishing Guidebook -- How to Get It? (November 23)
• Stress relief & de-embrittlement baking when hardness of parts varies? open Q. (November 19)
5f. W...W...W...WORD OF THE WEEK
• What do "gZn" and "tZn" mean? (April 8) open Q.
• What does Surface Current Density mean? (July 30)
• What is this mystery "electroplating over paint" process? (July 24)
5g. REACH, RoHS, EOL Directives; and Replacements for Cd, Pb, Cr+6, Nitric Acid & Phosphate Replacements
• Substitute for nitric acid to strip zincate off aluminum open Q. (December 30) 2nd Request
• Substitute for chrome plating open Q. (December 26)
• Understanding MIL-C-5541 Type 1 Class 1A & 3, and Type 2 Class 1a & 3 (December 15)
5h. MOSTLY METALLURGY; Heat Treatment
• Powdered metals (Copper) in Los Angeles, CA (March 15) RFQ
• Electroformed Nickel Bellows Annealing Process (February 23) open Q.
• Hardening EN8 & EN9 parts (February 18) open Q.
• Can Powder Coating Affect Heat Treatment or Weaken Aluminum? open Q. (January 12)
• Low temperature impact on 304L permeability open Q. (December 1)
• Aluminum temper T6 vs. T66 open Q. (November 6)
5i. PRECIOUS METAL RECOVERY
• Refining of Palladium and making its salt (February 19) open Q.
Melt old gold to make new jewelry open Q. (January 22)
• Cleaning gold that has been burned open Q. (December 14)
• Separate gold, silver, and platinum from each other open Q. (October 22)
6. CONSUMER, RESEARCH, & STUDENT ISSUES
6a. ARTISTS, HOBBYISTS, CAR BUFFS, HOME OWNERS, ETC.
Making a dark black watch dial (April 20) open Q.
• Problems and solutions for copper electroforming (April 19) open Q.
• Home nickel plating with vinegar and salt (April 17)
• Can nickel plating fill pit and scratches (April 14)
• Design Project: Recycling Copper through Electroforming/Plating (April 10) open Q.
Remove copper-nickel cladding from copper core coins? (April 9)
F.B. Rogers Item -- What Is It? (April 8)
• How to turn copper aesthetically green (April 7)
Tea Service: Sterling or Silverplate? (April 1)
Help, my yellow brass turned pink (March 26)
• Do It Yourself Nickel Plating onto Steel (March 26)
• Clear coating of Silver for Anti-tarnish (March 25) open Q.
Steel vs. aluminum patio furniture: corrosion resistance? (March 24) open Q.
• Artistic painting with anodizing (March 18) open Q.
• Gluing to Polypropylene? (March 10) open Q.
Antique baby carriage restorations (March 8) RFQ
• Galvanic Reaction between stainless sink and zinc washers (March 8)
• Green fingers from gold rings (March 7)
• Iron Plating (Electrodeposition of Iron onto other materials) (March 6)
• Need relining/re-tinning of copper pots & pans -- or tell me how to (March 5)
• Remove rust with muriatic acid (HCl / hydrochloric acid) (March 5)
Mystery patina on copper electroforms (March 5)
Zinc electroplating for hobbyists and school projects open Q. (March 4)
How to tint headlight metalizing? (March 3) open Q.
• How to make Pewter Shiny? (February 26)
Re-anodizing Aluminum (February 25) open Q.
• Need Dupont Lucite Acrylic Lacquer paint (February 25)
Replating of barber chairs (February 23)
• Silver Plating turning pink (February 23) open Q.
• What chemical will heat water to melt ice? (February 22) open Q.
Cast Iron Cook Stoves: Where to find parts and how to restore (February 21)
• How to Fix mercury damage to gold jewelry (February 20)
• Removal of clearcoat on copper (February 15)
Trying to make Nickel Acetate D-I-Y (February 14)
• Restore/repair black porcelain sink finish (February 8)
Dyed Anodizing Color Matching Q&A, Problems & Solutions open Q. (February 1)
Paint removal in corners of wood door (February 1)
• Copper Plating from an Ammonia Solution (January 31)
• Preparing acid copper brightener (January 30)
Zincate formulas for plating on aluminum open Q. (January 30)
Can I do 'rusting process' on nickel plated items? open Q. (January 27)
Removing tarnish on brass & copper open Q. (January 27)`
Restoring rusty cast iron wood stove, painting or polishing it (January 23)
How to fix pewter that turned gold color open Q. (January 20)
Can I rubber line a bottle cooler? (January 20)
• Lacquering / clear coating a Brass Bed (January 18)
Home Anodizing (January 18)
• Boiling water seal for home anodizing? open Q. (January 18)
• High strength fastener Q&A's, Issues & Answers open Q. (January 16)
• Paint/powder coat Aluminum Wheelchair Q&A's (January 14)
• Stripping a faucet down to raw brass open Q. (January 13)
How to clean Birds in Flight metal sculpture open Q. (January 13)
• Pre-coating for sublimation transfers onto ceramic (January 11)
• How to electroplate Aluminum onto Aluminum (January 10)
• Yellow Chromate Adhesion Problem (January 6)
• Rash from Ring? Fixed by Boiling in Vinegar & Peroxide! (January 5)
• Demi-fine gold plating of jewelry open Q. (January 5)
Restoring the dark brown finish to copper sinks (January 4)
• How to Blue / Blacken Brass open Q. (January 3)
• CLR ruined my baking pan (December 31)
• Re-anodizing Aluminum which has been previously anodized open Q. (December 30)
• Bathroom faucets corrode away from the inside (December 22)
• Confused about "acid test" for silver and other precious metals open Q. (December 21)
Electrolytic cleaning plates for silver: Q&A (December 19)
Jewelry plating problems for hobbyists, designers, startups open Q. (December 18)
What finish is on this antique turn signal actuator? (December 16)
• Want to do matte silver finish "french dead silvering" on brass clock dial open Q. (December 15)
• How to Clean Brass and Prevent Tarnishing open Q. (December 15)
• Preserving heat coloring of copper when clear coating (December 15)
• Q&A's about 'Memory Wire' in Jewelry (December 15)
• Hardness of black chrome finish for handgun? open Q. (December 10)
How to refinish cast iron and cast bronze fireplace surrounds open Q. (December 10)
• How to clean/restore old brass or bronze portholes open Q. (December 9)
• Annealing mixed metal jewelry (copper & silver) open Q. (December 7)
• Can you plate over yellow zinc with clear/silver? (December 7)
• Remove rust spots from manganese phosphate (December 5)
• Teak oil dries unevenly -- some spots are too dry (December 1)
6b. RESEARCH, THESIS TOPICS, UNIVERSITY & POST-GRAD STUDENTS
• Can't understand difference between hard chrome and decorative (April 21)
• High strength bolt testing (April 20) open Q.
• How to make Zinc Chloride (February 21) open Q.
• Electroforming of Copper Foil open Q. (January 10)
• Teflon coating of stainless steel open Q. (January 2)
• Want High Residual Stress in Electroless Nickel (December 2)
• Selective passivation of Iridium edges open Q. (November 28)
6c. K-12 SCIENCE PROJECTS, GRAMMAR & HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT QUESTIONS
Science Project: White Precipitate in Copper Plating? (February 22) open Q.
• Science project on the effect of SALT & WATER on steel wool (February 4)
• Which Beverage cleans pennies best? (December 15)
• Electroplating copper from copper sulfate bath for science project (December 7)
7. DRIFTED OFF FINISHING, BUT INTERESTING TO SOME OF US :-)
Need sweet spirits of nitre (April 16)
• Hydrolysis and HHO hydrogen energy for cars (April 16)
Cleaning Dirilyte Gold-tone Flatware (April 16)
• Silver extraction from waste hypo/fixer solution (April 16) open Q.
• Ceramic Tile Cleaning with muriatic acid (April 12)
• Freezer section of my fridge oozes orange goo (April 12)
Identifying rings: Marking system for rings (April 10) open Q.
Can I fix Stiffel lamp "pole switch" myself? (April 6)
• Why is Panchlok statue made of 51 grams of each metal? (April 4) open Q.
Hanson Van-Winkle Munning (H-VW-M) memories & memorabilia (April 4)
• Antique icebox Q&A's, Problems & Solutions (March 30)
What is 'Kelite'? The Kelite Bldg. in Los Angeles (March 27) open Q.
• Maple Syrup Boiling / Evaporator Pans (February 25) open Q.
Fix frozen zipper stuck from salt spray or corrosion (January 12)
• Mill Scale Uses and Applications open Q. (January 5)
Residential Elevators Parts and Maintenance open Q. (December 30)
• Zinc oxide production by French process open Q. (December 24)
Problems in White phenyl Manufacturing open Q. (November 21)