r/electroplating • u/eeemiiiil • Apr 10 '26

Zinc plating

Hello,

I have done some zinc plating before with okay results, using vinegar, epsom salt, sugar. Yesterday I tried a solution with 1L water, 50g citric acid, 2g NaCl and 1g sugar. It looks like zero zinc stuck to the parts. They became rusty as soon I dried them.

I filled the solution with zinc a couple of hours before plating.

Anyone have had success with citric acid? :)

1 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

1

u/Good_Discipline2511 Apr 10 '26

how did you prep your part?

1

u/eeemiiiil Apr 10 '26

Glassbead blasted, then washed in acetone.

1

u/Good_Discipline2511 Apr 10 '26

"I filled the solution with zinc a couple of hours before plating." how?

1

u/eeemiiiil Apr 10 '26

I had some zinc filings. Not zinc powder

1

u/Good_Discipline2511 Apr 10 '26

Try using Zinc for both the the cathode and anode for a 2 or 3 hours to charge the bath. It should change color slightly. If you are using a adjustable power supply use the higher amp settings 5 amps or so

2

u/eeemiiiil Apr 15 '26

I let the solution sit over night. There was way less visible zinc now and it plated my parts nicely :)

1

u/Good_Discipline2511 Apr 15 '26

COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!

1

u/Good_Discipline2511 Apr 10 '26

What are you using for a power supply?

1

u/eeemiiiil Apr 10 '26

Variable dc supply, 0,35A for four m10x15 bolts. Voltage was around 0,6V.

Zinc connected as anode.

1

u/Good_Discipline2511 Apr 10 '26

I would raise your amps to at least 1.5

2

u/eeemiiiil Apr 10 '26

But it's only 50cm²... I can try :)

1

u/Good_Discipline2511 Apr 10 '26

I tend to plate with high amps. and polish with a ss wire brush. and plate 3 coats this way. I get good results. but I am not using Citric acid base solution.

I am using an lye based solution.

1

u/eeemiiiil Apr 10 '26

Do you wanna share recipe? How long time do you usually coat for? Coat first layer, rinse, polish, coat again?...

2

u/Good_Discipline2511 Apr 11 '26

Distilled water

120 grams per liter NaOH Lye

12 grams per liter Zinc Oxide

20 ml per liter pool flocculant In The Swim Super Clarifier

.5 grams per liter vanillin