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Plating of pot metal

I would like information on refinishing pot metal. This includes filling the pits and so forth. Or does anyone know where I can purchase a good book that would cover this subject? Thank You for any help that you can give me.

Dale Miller
1996

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Hi, Dale.

You might try to find Electroplating of Zinc Diecastings, by S.K. Jalota -- I am guessing that it may have some of what you are looking for. You don't find much on this in the regular reference books used by production platers because, in general, they can't satisfactorily plate pitted castings. It is possible to impregnate the castings with an inert filler, but I think the most common real practice for refinishing is to bake the parts to drive off all moisture, then do a heavy cyanide copper plate, then buff hard to drive some of the copper into the pores to seal them, or alternately to fill them with solder (which is a skilled craft). Good luck.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
1996