Anyone do nickel plating on vintage tools?

[milkovich]

I was wondering if anyone here has been nickel plating old tools and had any advice? Should go electroplate or electroless? Try to DIY something up or jump in with a kit from Caswell? I'm not trying to perfectly restore my estate sale finds but I'd rather they were shined up somewhat instead of painted or rusty. I'm not a "collector" or re-seller, I'm just trying to make my pre-war wood working tools not look like they were found on the side of the road (some of them were literally found on the side of the road on trash day).

 

[Stuart in MN]

It's something I'm interested in as well. I've noticed a lot of the tool restoration guys on YouTube have added nickel plating (or zinc plating, depending on the circumstances) to their projects, and it can make a big difference in the appearance of the end product.

 

[mikeyr]

I have the Caswell kit, I started with the Eastwood battery powered kit and it worked well but I much prefer the Caswell kit with a power source, I never had any real issues with the battery powered one, it gave good results but I did have to change batteries mid-plating a few times.

 

[Shiftless]

I too am curious. Has anybody tried nickel plating a small vise? Like this little Prentiss? (Photo found on the web)

 

[kyrbz]

I use the Caswell electroless kits. Here's some old Hazet wrenches and other bits from my Isetta I did with the Caswell kits

 

[milkovich]

I use the Caswell electroless kits. Here's some old Hazet wrenches and other bits from my Isetta I did with the Caswell kits

What made you decide to do electroless? I'm thinking an old Stanley combination plane would have a lot of complicated shapes and I've heard electroless can be a more uniform plating.

 

[kyrbz]

What made you decide to do electroless? I'm thinking an old Stanley combination plane would have a lot of complicated shapes and I've heard electroless can be a more uniform plating.

I think I read some reviews about how easy the electroless kits were to use. They are easy to use and yield good results (IMO) but the chemicals can be kinda pricey

 

[larry4406]

I use the Caswell electroless kits. Here's some old Hazet wrenches and other bits from my Isetta I did with the Caswell kits

I think I read some reviews about how easy the electroless kits were to use. They are easy to use and yield good results (IMO) but the chemicals can be kinda pricey

You can't argue with the success you achieved! Those parts look great. I seem to recall you posting these pictures in a similar thread...

 

[Steve_P]

I bought the small Caswell battery plating kit 15? years ago. The copper plating worked great. The nickel plating sucked. Hopefully what they're selling now is better, but I'd strongly consider electroless.

 

[kyrbz]

You can't argue with the success you achieved! Those parts look great. I seem to recall you posting these pictures in a similar thread...

Yeah, probably posted those same pics on multiple threads

 

[seber]

I've done some experimenting with other metals. One thing I found is that for electroplating you want to have several anodes and low voltage.

 

[MJK]

So, I started playing around with this today. Electrolysis to clean some rusty tools, rinse, wire brush, clean w/acetone and plate in solution (more or less) according to the video on Geoffrey Croker's channel.

Some lessons learned.

• You can make the nickel electrolyte using as much current as you want but the plating only looks decent if you keep it at or below about .75 Amps. Too high and it gets a rough texture.
• I initially tried a quick dip in acid etch, and then a rinse between wire brushing and plating. He uses Hydrochloric acid, which may work. I can say with certainty that Muriatic does not. You get to wire bush and/or polish all over again.
• The surfaces to be plated are SUPER picky if you want it come out nice. Spend the time in prep.
• Cheap wire brushes for dremels are useful, but remarkably similar to acupuncture by shotgun. Be safe. I don't see a way around using these but it is a royal PITA.

 

[pizza]

He uses Hydrochloric acid, which may work. I can say with certainty that Muriatic does not. You get to wire bush and/or polish all over again.

wat? muriatic acid is an antiquated name for HCl (still used in some trades). same thing.

kinda like saltpeter = KNO3 and other similar salts

 

[RTM]

I just saw a breast drill on a FB page where someone plated a lot of it. Of course, can’t find the link now.

 

[seber]

I use muriatic acid but very dilute. You only need enough to pass current, not eat the steel.

 

[RTM]

I just saw a breast drill on a FB page where someone plated a lot of it. Of course, can’t find the link now.

I'm an idiot

Show your Millers Falls tools!

@d42jeep : Here's what the #6 handle looked like: The frame is nickel-plated: Picked that one up today at one of the Memorial Day sales I hit.

www.garagejournal.com

 

[MJK]

wat? muriatic acid is an antiquated name for HCl (still used in some trades). same thing.

kinda like saltpeter = KNO3 and other similar salts

Huh. Learn something new every day.

No idea then. His was clear and did nothing but etch the surface at 50% dilution. Mine is bright yellow and F'ed things all up.

 

[pizza]

No idea then. His was clear and did nothing but etch the surface at 50% dilution. Mine is bright yellow and F'ed things all up.

HCl's colorless. idk whether or not the yellow impurity's responsible for your issues. probably not.

 

[mark-NJ]

deleted

 

[tombell572]

Check out the Millers Falls tool thread.There's a guy you has posted recently who's done a beautiful job nickel plating breast drills.

Tom B.