Caswell plating kit - alternatives, other heater sources?

[BarrettN]

Hello all -

 

I'm thinking the Caswell yellow zinc plating kit looks pretty good - but are there alternatives to it? Also, they recommend heaters from Industrial Electric Heating supply http://www.industrialelectricheating.com/plating-heaters that seem rather expensive for what looks to me to be a pretty straightforward heater. Any suggestions for a source for a less expensive equivalent spec heater?

 

Thanks,

 

Barrett

[esty]

you could always buy a hot water heating element from your local box store and direct wire it...they sell for $15 - $20.00 and can go up to approx 220 degrees

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=hot+water+heater+element&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi2iaaimLfpAhVDCM0KHaq0D38Q_AUoAnoECAwQBA&biw=1201&bih=492

[ray_]

1 hour ago, esty said:

you could always buy a hot water heating element

But why would you want to heat hot water?

 

[esty]

3 minutes ago, ray_ said:

But why would you want to heat hot water?

 

i don't...i said he could....?

[halboyles]

2 hours ago, BarrettN said:

Any suggestions for a source for a less expensive equivalent spec heater?

 

I've used the kits from Caswell and the heaters from Industrial Electric and they are both expensive for what you get.  Despite their cost, the Caswell kits are a good starting place since they include almost everything you need except the heaters.  The Industrial Electric heaters are overkill.  And, according to live support at Caswell and, despite what their documentation states, you only need to heat the cleaning solution and, even then, only to about 160° F.   A simple crock pot can do this for you and it is thermostatically controlled and it is cheap.  

If you are going to be doing a wide variety of parts surface area wise, then you'll definitely need a constant current rectifier since current is what you need to control, not voltage.  But, in the end, surface prep is everything.  Because a perfectly clean ferrous surface is necessary for consistent zinc plating and passivating.  Therefore, you'll want to have tools to remove ancient accumlations of crud and rust down to the bare metal.  Media blasting cabinet, wire wheels, tumblers, ultrasonic cleaners... you'll have lots of excuses to fill up your garage with new tool toys!