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Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
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for Metal Finishing since 1989
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How to Remove Dropped Parts from Bottom of Plating Tank
Q. Hi:
We are trying to implement a daily schedule for removing dropped / fallen BRASS parts from the bottom of our Nickel plating tank. Currently we are doing it once a year during our yearly clean up.
Any ideas on how this can done on a daily schedule without draining out the tank?
Thanks
Sudhir
Employee - Fishers, Indiana, USA
February 26, 2008
A. I know of one installation where a piece of fiberglass grating was laid on the bottom of the tank and raised with ropes in the four corners. Although it sounds simple and straightforward at first, when you think about the anodes, heating coils, and air agitation system, it's not really as easy or practical as all that :-)
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
February 26, 2008
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A. We used a dust pan shaped hoe that we made. Some were poly pro and some were stainless. It had sides and a back, with appropriate sized holes in the back to drain it. You just "sweep" the tank after the last load comes out. - Navarre, Florida February 29, 2008
A. Hi Sudhir,  Freeman Newton [deceased] (It is our sad duty to advise that Freeman passed away April 21, 2012. R.I.P. old friend). February 29, 2008 A. I agree with Ted. I have also heard of suspending nylon mesh/screen in the tank but the drawbacks are the same. You should first look at why the parts are in the tank! If it is a rack, are the racks correct with the tips in good shape, are the rackers doing their job right? If barrel are the barrel doors fitting tightly and being closed correctly, are workers opening barrels over the tanks? etc. Try to remove the source of the problem, be proactive. This is a lot easier than removing the parts after they fall. You should definitely do it more than once a year if this is a significant problem. If you are getting brass parts in the solution you are using chemicals to purify the metals dissolved and/low current electrolysis (dummying) to remove them. Either way it is costing money and is detrimental to quality. Gene Packmanprocess supplier - Great Neck, New York March 2, 2008 |
Netting for Removing Dropped Parts in Plating Tanks
Q. Some plating shops use netting in their plating/rinse tanks for removing "drops" from the bottom of their tanks. What material should these nets be made off?
Art Kushner
Anaheim, California
July 18, 2014
A. Hi Art. I'd say polypropylene, with polyethylene being okay of it's more available.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
July 2014
A. Art
In a past life, we made shallow baskets from perforated polypro slightly smaller than the ID of the tank, then added some weights and lifting cords. Worked pretty good.
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
July 22, 2014
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