Hobbyists & Industry luminaries alike learn on every visit
(we earn from 'affiliate link' purchases)

Curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET

finishing.com -- The Home Page of the Finishing Industry

  The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing 1989-2025

-----

Practical to switch tank from zinc to copper plating without dumping?

I'm currently using a hobbyist zinc plating system to re-plate numerous small parts. I've had lots of good luck and wanted to play around with other metals, such as copper. So here's my question. Can I pull out my zinc anodes, install the copper anodes and de-contaminate the solution by plating a dummy piece?

Charles Stence
Restorer - Indiantown, FL, USA
October 13, 2009

No. You'll wind up making a mess of things; you'll still have too much Zn and not enough Cu in the solution. Remember, what gets plated is what is in solution, not what's hanging on the anode bar.

James Totter, CEF
- Tallahassee, Florida
October 15, 2009

(No "dead threads" here! If this page isn't currently on the Hotline your Q, A, or Comment will restore it)

Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread

Disclaimer: It's not possible to fully diagnose a finishing problem or the hazards of an operation via these pages. All information presented is for general reference and does not represent a professional opinion nor the policy of an author's employer. The internet is largely anonymous & unvetted; some names may be fictitious and some recommendations might be harmful.

If you are seeking a product or service related to metal finishing, please check these Directories: