Restored Zinc Parts - Opinions On How They Turned Out?

Afternoon... Need some opinions. I sandblasted and re-plated several parts in Zinc. I'm 90% sure these parts in pic are suppose to be zinc, but could be wrong. How do you think they look, period correct for a 1974 CJ5 Renegade? They turned out a bit shinier than I hoped, any way to dull them a bit?

I can always sandblast and try again with another platter who specializes in classic cars that I found after these were already in progress. These were done by a local manufacture facility that does commercial stuff. Only cost $80 so don't have a lot of money in them if I want to try again. Rather have them correct if they need re-done since they are for my frame off restoration project.

 

They don't like to far off

 

If you have the material, a light (low pressure) glass bead blast will cut the shine. The zinc will dull on it's own over time as it oxidizes with age.

 

Everything looks good, but I think the windshield latch is mounted to low. Ron

 

those look great...how about a rub down with some fine steel wool?

 

Never thought about that... Good idea. like a 000 steel wool. I'll try it on some of the back side of the parts. see how that works and whether it scratches too much.

I think I can get my hands on a bead blaster. Either that or the steel wool should be good options. Agree over time it will dull down.

 

They look great. IIRC the hood latches/catches are painted, not plated. They do look better plated.

 

Thanks Tim. I thought the same thing from my initial research. Kept seeing Painted latches or chrome. But mine were something other then paint. Reason I say that. Both latches were covered with a very fine surface rust. I didn't see any flakes of paint or anything underneath where they'd be protected from the elements. Also, when I put them in a chemical rust removal 'bath', the chemicals turned the plating into a red flake. Talking to someone, they said the red stuff was a chemical reaction to the plating. I was a 'C' student when it came to chemistry, so I'll go with what he said on that explanation. But I kept searching and searching found maybe 40% of the pics online plated, 60% painted black. Threw out all the aftermarket chrome stuff...in that figure.

 

I say just leave them be and let them weather like the Good Lord intended Zinc plated parts to be. In a year or two they'll be a dull grey and they'll be set.

 

Zinc is sold in "sheet", or sometimes in gutter shape. No working parts are made in zinc, too soft. Some nails for wood are steel with zinc coating, but it is rare now.
You have steel parts with a coating, they don't rust it seems, use them like this ... I use zinc sheets to make protection again water, kitchen, roof, and in a car you can use it too. It can be used in Coffeys shop to make a counter, to put dishes... It is a very no material, you can give it a shape. Weld with tin welding. Roof of some castles are made in zinc, it is interesting, a job. You can also make roof with copper sheet, I believe that the "Hamlet" castle in Denmark is copper.

 

I'm leaning this way...to. I think they look good, and you all are right. Year or two they'll be perfect.

Yes I know these are not made of pure zinc. That is that OEM platted them in Zinc, which is the point of my post. Whether my re-platting efforts were close to OEM factory process done back in 1974.

Everyone, thanks for the responses and thoughts on the subject. Appreciate all the feedback.

 

Your parts look how the parts looked when new. They will dull down some as they oxidize in time.
They look great and correct!
-Donny

 

Pretty sure zinc is like aluminum. When the raw metal is exposed to moisture in the air, these metals form a thin oxide coating that seals the metal surface and is less lustrous than the raw metal. This is different from iron, where the volume of the resulting oxide is larger than the volume of the metal. The iron oxide spalls off the surface, exposing fresh iron.

 

I had a new 1980 cj5 and the hood latches and other such parts were pretty shinny off the lot - the dulled over time. I think you're right on target, FWIW I'd just run with it. They look great to me.

 

The plating kits you can get from Caswell Plating, for zinc plating, has a brightener that can be added to the electrolytic plating solution. I'm sure your commercial plater is adding the same brightener. With the Caswell kit the brightener can be deleted from the solution and the plating is a dull color. I would enjoy the bright colored zinc and wait for it to dull. I am fixing to blast my parts and try plating my latches with the Caswell zinc kit.

 

Agree. I am going to keep them as is. Figure if I keep second guessing myself, and redo the things...I'll never get this thing on the road! Would you post up some pics if you think about it after you finish the Caswell kit plating for comparison. One thing wanted to share since you are about to start yours. I forgot to extend the hood latches. So sandblasting missed about a 1/4 inch or so, and the plating didn't cover it either. Looks good until you extend the latch, and see a band of rust. I'm hoping that when the hood is closed and latched no one will see my mistake. Otherwise, I may have to redo the two latches after fabbing up a way to keep them expanded throughout the process.

 

Before you strip them down and recoat them, go to an office supply store and buy a fine point paint pen in silver or gray. Test to get a color match. When the hood is latched and the rusty band is visible remove the rust as best you can then paint the band with the silver paint pen. I just did this to my hood latches. They were rusty and pitted. I blasted them and plated them but had the same issue with a rusty band. It is such a small area I think you'll be the only one who knows.
FWIW We have been known to use these pens to touch up chrome and hide rack marks on some parts.

 

Glad I'm not the only one... That is a great idea on the paint pen. I'm going too grab those tomorrow! Thanks for the tip...