Building the Perfect Miata
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 37,716
Likes: 6,416
From: bolton
It's been a long time for me as well since my last chemistry class
I was sort of into battery type reactions.
you could generate an ionic reversing reaction based on temperature so ti does matter a little bit but.....
I wonder if the heat just accelerates the process.
You're not changing the temperature that much.
be careful with those chromates, they are incredibly toxic.
I was sort of into battery type reactions.
you could generate an ionic reversing reaction based on temperature so ti does matter a little bit but.....
I wonder if the heat just accelerates the process.
You're not changing the temperature that much.
be careful with those chromates, they are incredibly toxic.
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 33,188
Likes: 1,646
From: Randolph, NJ
I've always been a big fan of the Miata. With the possible exception of the 2016 version, I think the best one is the 2nd gen. If I didn't have an S2000, I'd have a Miata.
I too like your approach. Mostly leave it alone as the engineers intended but do the small things that make it better without changing the character of the car.
Enjoy.
I too like your approach. Mostly leave it alone as the engineers intended but do the small things that make it better without changing the character of the car.
Enjoy.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 16,478
Likes: 2,665
From: Long Beach, MS
Originally Posted by tof' timestamp='1456851065' post='23895882
[quote name='Legal Bill' timestamp='1456844106' post='23895692']
Great. I'm sure you will enjoy the process. It is neat to learn a new skill and this one is pretty easy to master. Cold plating supposedly does not hold up as well as hot electroplating, but so far my stuff is holding up well. I'll be VERY interested to hear what you think of the Caswell kit. Most of the new stuff is cad plated and has that golden color to it. I'd like to know what you think of the final results with this kit as compared to the original appearance.
Great. I'm sure you will enjoy the process. It is neat to learn a new skill and this one is pretty easy to master. Cold plating supposedly does not hold up as well as hot electroplating, but so far my stuff is holding up well. I'll be VERY interested to hear what you think of the Caswell kit. Most of the new stuff is cad plated and has that golden color to it. I'd like to know what you think of the final results with this kit as compared to the original appearance.
Have you ever used the heat method to anodize small parts? Either electric "burner" or torch method?
No. I think Caswell sells a small oven that you use to heat the liquid acid bath for hot electroplating, but I did not see fit to invest in that. My high school chemistry is just good enough to grasp the concept of electroplating (which I think is a remarkably cool process) but the whole "heat up the acid in an over" thing sounds dangerous to me. Using a torch is pretty much the same as tinning electric wires, I guess. I never tried is as it seems like it would be hard to control how much material you bonded to the part. With electroplating I never had a problem with fouling the threads of a bolt. That said, when I had to plate some very tiny, very fine thread bolts, I kept the threads out of the bath.
[/quote]
Actually the process I was talking about involves simply heating the bare metal (sterile and uncoated) object. I think some kind of oxidation does the rest. Color goes from silver to gold to blue.
Link to Youtube video
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 22,620
Likes: 867
From: The (S)Low Country
Looking forward to seeing the finished product. This is a very interesting thread. I too like the Miata and would have probably gotten one if I hadn't gotten my first S. I see tons of them here and cannot help but notice the smiles on the drivers' faces. 
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 16,478
Likes: 2,665
From: Long Beach, MS
Miata has an official Mississippi tag. But it still does not have a name.
Also picked up a fresh air filter bracket, a couple of oil filters (and crush washers), an air filter element, and assorted nuts and bolts.
I will do the oil change this weekend and let a trusted local shop change clutch fluid, brake fluid, transmission gear oil and dif gear oil. Should do those jobs myself but I'm getting lazy in my old age.
Also picked up a fresh air filter bracket, a couple of oil filters (and crush washers), an air filter element, and assorted nuts and bolts.
I will do the oil change this weekend and let a trusted local shop change clutch fluid, brake fluid, transmission gear oil and dif gear oil. Should do those jobs myself but I'm getting lazy in my old age.
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 34,131
Likes: 126
From: Canton, MA
Miata has an official Mississippi tag. But it still does not have a name.
Also picked up a fresh air filter bracket, a couple of oil filters (and crush washers), an air filter element, and assorted nuts and bolts.
I will do the oil change this weekend and let a trusted local shop change clutch fluid, brake fluid, transmission gear oil and dif gear oil. Should do those jobs myself but I'm getting lazy in my old age.
Also picked up a fresh air filter bracket, a couple of oil filters (and crush washers), an air filter element, and assorted nuts and bolts.
I will do the oil change this weekend and let a trusted local shop change clutch fluid, brake fluid, transmission gear oil and dif gear oil. Should do those jobs myself but I'm getting lazy in my old age.
Whitey
Pip Squeak
My Wife's Car
All Season Treason
What would Delaware?
The Next Daily Driver
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 16,478
Likes: 2,665
From: Long Beach, MS
Cute.
Whitey...An unfortunate choice here in the Deep South. We are trying to get past name calling.
Pip Squeak...I get enough heat from the Mustang crowd already.
My Wife's Car...NOT my wife's car!
All Season what?
What would Delaware? She wore a New Jersey.
I think "The Next Daily Driver" has already been registered and copyrighted. And I hear it's a lawyer. Don't want to mess with that.
But, hey, keep 'em coming.
Whitey...An unfortunate choice here in the Deep South. We are trying to get past name calling.
Pip Squeak...I get enough heat from the Mustang crowd already.
My Wife's Car...NOT my wife's car!
All Season what?
What would Delaware? She wore a New Jersey.
I think "The Next Daily Driver" has already been registered and copyrighted. And I hear it's a lawyer. Don't want to mess with that.
But, hey, keep 'em coming.