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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2007
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    Sth Gippsland Vic
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    130

    Default What sort of plating would this be?

    Hi .
    Ive got a wood working machine , a thicknesser I want to fix up . Any one have any ideas what the plating on the Brass plate may be . Its obviously pretty thin and someone has scrubbed some of it off. This picture is of a machine same as mine . My plate doesn't show the difference as good as this one does. could it be Zinc plated ? or Nickel Plated ? or what ? The nickel plating I've seen on other things looks a lot more shiny than this .. Thanks Rob

    s-l1600la.jpg

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
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    N.W.Tasmania
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    1,407

    Default

    I doubt that it is nickel plating Rob, it looks more like aluminium or zinc if it is plating, but I am wondering if it isn't just a paint layer silk screened on. If it is aluminium, it may have been vapour deposited like they do mirrors on glass, and then anodised perhaps, that would be a thin layer for sure.
    Another Rob.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Albury
    Posts
    11

    Default

    How old is the machine? If it's definitely a brass plate the plating is likely to be a cupronickel alloy (you know the stuff your silver coins are made out of) or a straight nickel plating. It definitely won't be zinc. If the machine is fairly old the chances of it being aluminium are pretty slim as the process for depositing aluminium on flat surfaces like this has generally only been used in more recent times.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Alexandra Vic
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    69
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    Default

    I vote for Nickel personally, it is fairly soft and hence prone to slowly wearing away when there are areas in regular contact, such as a switchplate as shown. Was common in the past as a brightwork plating, not shiny or hard like chrome, but bright, professional looking and relatively cheap and easy to plate compared to chrome. Nowdays mainly used as an intermediate layer between base metal and chrome final layer.

    Another option would be tin, easy to plate plate, bright when new, but soft and prone to tarnish over time. People tend to try and polish it to get rid of the tarnish and suddenly start seeing base mettal underneath.
    I used to be an engineer, I'm not an engineer any more, but on the really good days I can remember when I was.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Sth Gippsland Vic
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    Default

    Thanks Rob and aldav . Yes its definitely plated onto Brass . Its not Copper and doesn't look like bronze . The Brass has oxidized where the plating is worn off and I cant tell if there is Copper plating in between or not . I don't think copper is in between.
    This is my switch plate. The plating reminds me of EPNSa bit , but it seems a fair bit thinner than that with the ease it can be removed. i tried a bit of Brasso on it but it didnt really change. some Silvo might brighten up the remaining plating . The Machine is a 24" wide 1963 Robinson Thicknesser from England.
    Rob

    IMG_8213.JPG IMG_7825a.jpg

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2007
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    Sth Gippsland Vic
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    Default

    I'm just trying to find out what it is so I can restore it. Re plating with nickel is an electro plating process isn't it ?
    And Tin Plating malb , never thought of that . Is Tin plating an electro process or a just heat and rub it on like tinning when soldering ? The easier the better for me as long as it looks right or close,
    Rob

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
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    71
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    5,942

    Default

    They're both an electro plated finish. If you were to take it to an Electroplating Service, they should be able to tell you what it was, and quote on a resto on it.
    You could TRY tinning it, but personally, I think it'll look like c..p!!!
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Healesville
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    2,129

    Default

    It is probably Cadmium plated.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2015
    Location
    melbourne
    Posts
    473

    Default

    There is an 'electroless' nickel plate method.
    Caswell have a kit for it.


    Modern nickel is not the same as 'the good old days' - it now has brighteners to make it 'whiter', whereas originally it was a slightly yellowish colour.

    There are also diy silver plating kits designed to restore worn silverware. That might be the simplest, because of the volume sold.



    Russ

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    South Australia
    Posts
    1,656

    Default

    Silver plating in my opinion would have the durability required for this application

  11. #11
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Sth Gippsland Vic
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    Default

    Thanks for all the reply's. I don't seem to get email notifications telling of reply's to this thread ?? Or part of the forum , not sure ?

    Any way . What I may do is see if there is a plating service nearby . Ill ask one of the local guys I met who is doing up an old Ford. He had chrome plating done a while back. If not I will look into doing it . I did see some you tube stuff on Zinc I think ?

    Rob

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