09-12-2021, 05:22 PM
This was the end result of my efforts at nickel plating.
I started with the petrol filler cap, which was a success on the second attempt.
I then progressed to the windscreen opener which went well, even the steel part was easy to plate.
I then needed to replace the windscreen glass, the next obvious item to plate was the windscreen frame.
The odd shape of this item and it’s size meant I had to use plan “B” which was to apply the plating by using an electrode wrapped in a J cloth. This was then soaked in the nickel solution and was applied to the frame by gently rubbing it along the area to be plated, I calculated 30 minutes of this monotonous activity would provide a good thickness, to allow for many future years of polishing. The J clothe must be kept moving otherwise it burns the plating. Each face was done in turn.
I was so pleased with the results that I was then keen to try it on an old radiator surround I had.
The worst part of this was removing the old chrome an polishing out the heavy corrosion marks beneath.
I finally had to resort to acid for the Austin logo which worked well but was not pleasant to perform.
The same method of applying the nickel by hand was used.
The most important lesson I learned was to ensure the surface to be treated was very clean and highly polished.I used acetone to clean the parts as I had inherited a bottle of this from the previous occupant of our house.
The total cost of all this was £12.00 for the three nickel electrodes from eBay.
I started with the petrol filler cap, which was a success on the second attempt.
I then progressed to the windscreen opener which went well, even the steel part was easy to plate.
I then needed to replace the windscreen glass, the next obvious item to plate was the windscreen frame.
The odd shape of this item and it’s size meant I had to use plan “B” which was to apply the plating by using an electrode wrapped in a J cloth. This was then soaked in the nickel solution and was applied to the frame by gently rubbing it along the area to be plated, I calculated 30 minutes of this monotonous activity would provide a good thickness, to allow for many future years of polishing. The J clothe must be kept moving otherwise it burns the plating. Each face was done in turn.
I was so pleased with the results that I was then keen to try it on an old radiator surround I had.
The worst part of this was removing the old chrome an polishing out the heavy corrosion marks beneath.
I finally had to resort to acid for the Austin logo which worked well but was not pleasant to perform.
The same method of applying the nickel by hand was used.
The most important lesson I learned was to ensure the surface to be treated was very clean and highly polished.I used acetone to clean the parts as I had inherited a bottle of this from the previous occupant of our house.
The total cost of all this was £12.00 for the three nickel electrodes from eBay.
Location:- Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire.