Cadmium Plated Part Restoration, Midyears

[Andy Brown (#31563)]

I searched the Archives on this subject and didn't find too much, so I'm going to go ahead and ask:

For the Cadmium plated parts in the engine compartment (hood catches, hood support, master cylinder lid, etc.) what is the preferred method for restoration? Are there any reliable vendors who will replate these parts? Is it acceptable to paint these parts(I think I know the answer)?

I was hoping to just be able to clean these parts thoroughly and move on, but some of the cad plated parts where painted or modified by the previous owner.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Robert C.]

Re: Cadmium Plated Part Restoration, Midyears

Andy, The paint won't pass muster. You would be better off with no finish at all on the part. There are many platers in most cities. You can buy your own cad plating kit from Eastwood products for about $60. Check Eastwood Products web page.

[Chuck S.]

Zinc Is The Way To Go

Andy,

Almost nobody plates cadmium anymore, but you can find platers that will do zinc. GM often specified zinc as the alternate plating on parts drawings, and esteemed experts here (and I concur) say that you can not tell zinc rom cadmium.

The problem with having a plater process a bunch of small fasteners, screws, and washers is that very small parts are not a "good fit" for commercial platers; unless they plate a lot of similar parts, e.g. #8 X 1/4" long screws, they have less incentive and less control than you to make sure they don't lose them, and/or mix them up so they can't be identified. I have a friend who runs an electroplating business, and he plated my stuff in zinc after I prepped the parts and set them up exactly as he told me. I helped him as he ran my stuff through his tanks personally; this is NOT the kind of service you will get from a plater who makes his money by volume.

If I had only few parts to be replated, I believe I would go the home-plating route. There has been at least one other thread on this subject, but it may not have been archived. In that thread, one poster who apparently had used both kits, liked the Caswell kit better, but it IS more expensive. The downside of either kit is that you will eventually have to dispose of the chemicals. Caswell's website address is shown below.

Chuck Sangerhausen


Caswell Electroplating

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Cadmium Plated Part Restoration, Midyears

Andy: Chuck is right in that the home plating route is the way to go. The posting he referred to about someone who has used both the Eastwood and the Caswell systems was probably mine. I have used both and the Caswell system works great! Yes it is a bit more expensive to start out but you get so much mre for your money. I have the "CopyCad" set and also the black oxide setup. You will get perfect results after you experiment and learn how to use it. There is a learning curve that takes some time but it is worth it. I hope this helps. Jeff

[Patrick T.]

Nobody Plates Cadmium Anymore.....

because it is a carcinogen. Patrick

[Bill Becker]

Copy Cad

Jeff,

I just ordered the kit from Caswell to do Zinc and "Copy Cad" plating amoung other things. The gal on the phone (sexy british accent), told me that they are basically the same except when the zinc plating solution gets old, the finish gets more dull (duller?) thereby resembling a Cad finish. True?

Bill Becker

[Dale Pearman]

Re: Cadmium Plated Part Restoration, Midyears

Eastwood has a CADMIUM plating kit? For home use?

Dale.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Copy Cad

Bill: I have no reason to doubt what she says since she is in the business and I'm only a hobyist. I have always believed that zinc is a brighter finish that cadmium which is very "un-shiny". The finish that comes out of the Copy-Cad solution is very dull but can be brightened somewhat by lightly buffing with a 0000 steel wool (very lightly!). I do know from experience that both the cad finish and the black oxide finish from these kits, when done properly, are absolutely right on. I know you will be pleased with the results but be patient and be sure to scrupulously clean the anode after each use and don't contaminate any of the chemicals. Clean the anode with steel wool until it regains its shiny appaerance during and after using. Good luck! Jeff