Bolt/Fastener Restoration at Home

[Joe L.]

Re: Bolt/Fastener Restoration at Home

Joe,
Not surprised that you state the springs were originally a phosphate finish. I followed the NCRS Judging Guide - it states. "The spring is painted gloss black". I questioned that too as I don't recall many, if any chassis items were painted "gloss" black. Looking through archive threads I did find a few references / member comments that stated, (right or wrong) that the springs were gloss black.

Ed------


I have never seen these springs painted gloss black. The original springs on my 1969 are black phosphate finish. NOS examples I have are all black phosphate finish. Attached is a photo of the originals on my car.

DSCN3673.jpg

[John D.]

Re: Bolt/Fastener Restoration at Home

As usual Joe is correct. See if your plater can bake your parts shortly after they are plated. Helps prevent embrittlement. Have proof as on my fuel injection screw and hardware kits if he doesn't bake the washers they easily break-fall aprt.

[Terry M.]

Re: Bolt/Fastener Restoration at Home

Agree with John. My plating guys always bake the parts after they are plated.

[Joe L.]

Re: Bolt/Fastener Restoration at Home

Agree with John. My plating guys always bake the parts after they are plated.

Terry------


This is fine for lower strength, non critical or non-safety-related parts. However, for high strength, critical, or safety-related parts I would not rely on a plating shop "baking".

[Tom E.]

Re: Bolt/Fastener Restoration at Home

For those so inclined, here is a good read on Hydrogen Embrittlement. Before I retired I was heavily involved in the Aerospace Industry and Hydrogen Embrittlement was a serious concern on high strength and critical fasteners.

https://www.nace.org/resources/general-resources/corrosion-basics/group-3/hydrogen-embrittlement

some manufacturing operations such as welding, electroplating, phosphating and pickling; if a material subject to such operations is susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement then a final, baking heat treatment to expel any hydrogen is employed.

[Terry M.]

Re: Bolt/Fastener Restoration at Home

Thank you to all for input, especially those regarding potential hydrogen embrittlement and safety. I certainly learned a lot more than I realized. Was not aware of those concerns previously.

[Alan D.]

Re: Bolt/Fastener Restoration at Home

Made an effort to save all my original fasteners also, a few needed to be replaced by repo's or NOS. Was concerned about embittlerment also so looked at a number of rust cleaning products relative to ph. Attached a pdf list of these (old) FYI.
My idea was to use a method to remove rust using a ph=7 cleaner (almost) The Molasses and Water is slooow however great for large items, it's cheap.

Not sure if the process will still cause embrittlement?