Danny's RX7 FB

[DKWW2000]

That is a job well done, you could make some money on the side doing it for Forum members

[danny]

That's impressive. I'm guessing you used a parts washer or some such method?

Yes, firts a good clean in the parts washer and afther the disassembly a soak in the sonic claener. De-rusting the steel parts in all kind of methods and a respray. Alloy bits a further claen with a Dremel-tool.

[danny]

That is a job well done, you could make some money on the side doing it for Forum members

Who knows? Maybe when I'm through my own projects...but not in the near future, i guess.

[Casey]

That's fabulous! I'm in the process of doing this too, on a spare Nikki I bought a few years ago.

How did you achieve that gold colour, spray with something? I have been toying with the idea of re-electroplating a few bits on mine.

[danny]

That's fabulous! I'm in the process of doing this too, on a spare Nikki I bought a few years ago.

How did you achieve that gold colour, spray with something? I have been toying with the idea of re-electroplating a few bits on mine.

The gold color is painted here. I took a good piece the original yellow electrolitic plated parts to the shop and looked for a matching color.
I have done some re-plating on several occasions, and this is quite easy. problem is that you only get a good result with zinc, which is silver colored.

I have tried different methods to get that gold colored layer, but without result. You can add copper or brass, but after a while the copper will oxidize and the pieces will turn green. You can experiment with chemicals, but then you quickly get dangerous fumes.

[gt_james]

There are kits online to do plating, and you can do the yellow/gold finish https://classic-plating.co.uk/product/zinc-plating-kit/

[Casey]

There are kits online to do plating, and you can do the yellow/gold finish https://classic-plating.co.uk/product/zinc-plating-kit/

I bought a similar kit a few years back:

https://www.gaterosplating.co.uk/zinc-plating-kit-5L

It also has an option for a yellow gold passivate finish, although when I've used it, it's been quite subtle and not as yellow as I'd hoped. I probably need to experiment more

[gt_james]

Maybe you an leave the parts in the cadmium passivate for longer? I haven't tried plating before, but I would definitely give it a go.

[Casey]

Maybe you an leave the parts in the cadmium passivate for longer? I haven't tried plating before, but I would definitely give it a go.

Indeed, as I've found, you have to experiment a bit with all the variables to get a good finish, but very pleased with the results. Rear suspension bolt example. You can make out the yellow more on the threads than the shank:

2015-01-09 15.31.27.jpg (117.14 KiB) Viewed 5376 times

[KYPREO]

All the zinc plating these days is silver in colour. I believe that the hexavalent chromium they used to create the yellow tinge is obsolete now as it is carcinogenic. Hexavalent chromium is certainly banned in the EU. Yellow passivates aren't quite the same.

If you buy new mazda parts like bolts or the headlight motor arms they are silver now too even though the original was yellow zinc.