Zinc Plating

[Bikeaholic]

Been playing with my new Zinc Plating Kit the I recently bought. It is one of the Janes Kits. I'm having fun with my new toy turning shite into shine 

[crs-and-rms]

looks good how much  is the kit worth

[tony27]

Was wondering what was up with your axle until I looked at the top shot again, might have some issues getting rest of it to blend in properly

[maico police]

Was wondering what was up with your axle until I looked at the top shot again, might have some issues getting rest of it to blend in properly

Um. I don't think anyone's going to notice the rest of it are they?

[Paul552]

Looks nice

Has anyone tried Nickel

What do you think is better???

[frostype400]

I have the same kit it is good but a bit time consuming I did 36 spokes and nipples the other week and it took a while but atleast I was able to do the whole job my self plating the spokes and then relacing the wheel.

[tony27]

Was wondering what was up with your axle until I looked at the top shot again, might have some issues getting rest of it to blend in properly

Um. I don't think anyone's going to notice the rest of it are they?

I didn't mean how it looks rather than to not have a step if the plating overlaps

[oldfart]

Nickel plating is just as easy .... you will note in his pic a thermometer and a clear liquid, you will also need a crock pot or something similar to maintain an even temp.
The difference is zinc is more foregiving and can be easily stripped again where as nickel is a pain to strip back 

[Bikeaholic]

Was wondering what was up with your axle until I looked at the top shot again, might have some issues getting rest of it to blend in properly

No problems just doing the head of the axle. The rest of the axle was in good nick. Not much point doing the whole axle and wasting zinc when it will be lubricated and hidden inside the wheel. From memory the kit was around $360.00 for the 4lt zinc and nickle kit. Came with everything needed other than containers which I bought for around $2 each. I also bought a heating pad (that's it sitting under the container) from the home brew shop which heats the electrolyte to 25-30deg Cel which is the recommended temperature for zinc plating. Zinc plating is the easiest. Nickle plating is a whole lot more unforgiving and a higher temperature needed. Haven't had a crack at that yet.
It is a bit time consuming but handy for restoring brackets and larger bolts, spokes etc which cost a fortune to buy and that is if they are still available too which a lot of the time are not. Smaller bolts, nuts and washers etc I just go and get them from the bearing/bolt shop new. I have a collection of bikes so anything that saves a few $$ with the restorations is handy...and makes the wife happy too 
 You can order the Janes Kits online at www.janekits.com.au   

[Maicoman]

I tried the Jane Nickel plating kit but found the results less than satisfying. I followed the instructions to the later but still had alot of pitting and bubbling of the plating on the surface. I also bought a bottle of the yellow chromate dip but it rubs off quite easily. It is very time consuming wiring every part on and in the end I tossed it away.
    I found a brilliant plater in Woodpark Road, Smithfield called Elite Platers. Myself and another forum member generally drop 2 bikes worth of nuts and bolts in to make good use of the minimum charge of $90.
   They can do just about anything. We've had cast iron kickstart levers, discs, rear sprockets, spokes the lot. They also do metal blackening and the yellow chromate dip.
  I haven't lost any parts as yet even tiny screws which can all be done. For the cost of the kit it just is not worth it in my eyes.

[bishboy]

How does the plating affect the grease nipples on the bolts.  Are they KX suspension strut bolts?