The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Finishing Techniques

2005

Hi, I'm studying engineering for my BTEC Dipolma and I work in industry, does anybody know any good web links for the following:

-anodising
-plating
-powder coating
-sheradisng
-galvanising
-mechanical cleaning
- and etching

I'm trying to write a report on what each is, and the process of them.

Thank you guys,
Sarah-Jane

Sarah-Jane C.
Apprenctice Mechanical Engineer - UK

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Each of those topics has been discussed dozens (and in most cases hundreds) of times on this site alone, Sarah-Jane. The problem is that within the foreseeable future no web site will perform this function of a book because you will not find anyone who has devoted years or decades of their life to organizing those subjects into clear tutorial fashion. There is simply no economic model that would permit such a thing because everyone expects the internet to be free. The web is great for what it's great for, but this is not one of those things. See our list of "must have" books or get a copy of the Metal Finishing Guidebook from your school, company, or local library. You'll find it a hundred times faster. Good luck.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2005

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Sarah Jane,
You are asking for a lot of information, but to clarify things a bit better, how long is your report supposed to be? There are huge books written on all these subjects, so your report could become a real "opus magna". Also, what depth do you want to go to? Is it just a superficial review of the techniques or do you need to go into the detailed chemistry and surface science? I would suggest you use your college library and look up the metal finishing section and gauge your report on the depth required. If this is not possible, contact either the Institute of Metal Finishing or the Metal Finishers Association; they are both in Birmingham and I am sure they will help you with suitable texts.

As I hope you will discover, engineering is fun, but the best bit is doing it yourself - there are too many "engineers" around who only like to get others to do the work and then they take the glory! The fun bit is doing it yourself and KNOWING you did it. Metal finishing is particularly rewarding because you can create some very beautiful things just by throwing some otherwise pretty boring articles into buckets of coloured water and applying a bit of electricity.

Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist
Chesham, Bucks, UK
2005

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Hello Ted,

I am planning to do a quite detailed report and I want to go for the Distinction grade, I have made a start, and so far its going well.

Regards SJ

Sarah-Jane [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
- UK
2005

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Best of luck with it, SJ. As Trevor noted, you should be able to get help with this from the associations he mentioned. The information in texts will be well organized and indexed, and you should be able to find the material to whatever depth you need on each of these technologies. If you are willing to spend a few pounds,get a 2nd hand copy of the Metal Finishing Guidebook and you'll be off to a great start. But look in your library for it.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2005