Can Anyone Do Dark Manganese Phosphate Plating

[Kirk M.]

Hi All,

Looking for someone to plate some hood hinges dark manganese phosphate for me and having a hard time finding anyone. Anybody have any suggestions? Thanks.

Kirk

[Gary B.]

Re: Can Anyone Do Dark Manganese Phosphate Plating

Kirk,

I bet Richard Fortier (advertises in the Driveline) in Michigan knows someone who can plate in any finish imaginable.

Gary

[Patrick H.]

Re: Can Anyone Do Dark Manganese Phosphate Plating

Many of us do this in our garages, so to speak. It's not difficult at all. Have you considered that?

[Grant W.]

Re: Can Anyone Do Dark Manganese Phosphate Plating

Hi Kirk
What year are your hood hindges
if you have a 68 to 73
I use the Zinc phosphate solution and then use gun metal black out. This will replicate the same mfg process from GM or email me
grantwong@telus.net
Thanks, Grant

[Patrick H.]

Re: Can Anyone Do Dark Manganese Phosphate Plating

Grant,

Why use two processes when you could do the manganese once and get the desired result?

Some of us use the manganese phosphate solution from Shooter's Solutions, and it works very well. I used a different brand at first, but that company isn't around any longer and the Shooter's Solutions is at least as good if not better. With a Coleman stove and an IR temp gun to check water temperature anyone can get professional results.

Patrick

[Donald H.]

Re: Can Anyone Do Dark Manganese Phosphate Plating

I also use the Shooter's Solutions chemicals. The most difficult thing about doing your own is regulating the temperature of the solution.

The parts that I have done seem to stand up better than reproductions parts I have used.

Don

[Patrick H.]

Re: Can Anyone Do Dark Manganese Phosphate Plating

I also use the Shooter's Solutions chemicals. The most difficult thing about doing your own is regulating the temperature of the solution.

The parts that I have done seem to stand up better than reproductions parts I have used.

Don

I've found that using a handheld IR temp gun and "shooting" the pan of liquid works well. My goal is 180-190 degrees, and that seems to be the perfect temp to get it right.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Can Anyone Do Dark Manganese Phosphate Plating

I also use the Shooters Solution product with great results. I use an electric hot water heater element in a plastic pail of the solution and an IR gun to monitor the temp. just wire the heater element with a plug and fashion a sheet metal bracket that will hang on the side of the bucket and suspend the element into the solution.
Jeff

[Patrick H.]

Re: Can Anyone Do Dark Manganese Phosphate Plating

Jeff,

Do you use a rheostat of some type to adjust the temperature of the heating element?
My first setup had a heating element, but since I could not adjust the temperature I've migrated to using the Coleman stove. It was my grandfather's, and still works great!

Patrick

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Can Anyone Do Dark Manganese Phosphate Plating

Patrick,
For all other plating I use a thermostat from an electric hot water heater that I rubber band to the side of the pail. On a water heater this thermostat screws to the outside of the tank and registers the temp and cycles the heating element on and off. Of course on a hat water heater no one would have the temp set to 200* as required for the phosphating so I am not sure how high you can set this. Normally I just keep my IR gun handy and monitor until it reaches 200* and manually turn off the power until the temp dips to 180 or so and then turn it back on. Since the "plating" process only tales about 5 to 10 minutes it is not burdensome. I will check the temp limits of the thermostat when I go to the shop later today.
BTW- what type of oil do you use for sealing the piece after processing? The oil that comes from Shooters Solution is rather expensive especially when shipping is added. There must be a locally available oil in quarts that can be substituted.
Jeff

[Patrick H.]

Re: Can Anyone Do Dark Manganese Phosphate Plating

I've often used PreLube 6, as I have a few cans of it. That is also not cheap, but works well.

[Randy R.]

Re: Can Anyone Do Dark Manganese Phosphate Plating

Usually I am treating small parts so I put the solution in a plastic bowl and put it in a microwave oven to heat. I have found that the temperature setting is not that important as long as it is HOT.

Randy