Cadmium Plating Shop

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OldGold360

Well-known member
Does anybody recommend a plating shop that does cadmium plating and doesn't have a steep minimum charge? The shop I was using recently closed after over 100 years in business thru 4 generations when the current owners decided to retire. Looking for another source with small batch friendly shops. I have contacted about a dozen shops and they either do not do the work, or they have a high minimum charge.

Thanks for the help!
 
19Fordy said:
Here's a bunch of cadnium plating shops in Eashington State.
https://www.bing.com/search?q=cadni...EDSAQg4MTk0ajBqNKgCCLACAQ&FORM=ANAB01&PC=HCTS
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Thanks, but believe me I’ve tried them all in Wa State and in several other states. Queen City was my go to. They did the nicest work and offered cadmium plating as well. They are now retired. I’ve used Art Brass many times but they cater more towards aerospace now and have much higher minimums than they used to. Metal Tech also has steep minimums. Electrofinishing is another shop in WA that I’ve used and they were great but they don’t answer calls any more and you can’t leave them a message.

I’m only asking here as a last resort thinking someone here may have a good source. It doesn’t have to be in WA. I’m fine with shipping. Thanks for any recommendations.
 
OldGold360 said:
Thanks, but believe me I’ve tried them all in Wa State and in several other states. Queen City was my go to. They did the nicest work and offered cadmium plating as well. They are now retired. I’ve used Art Brass many times but they cater more towards aerospace now and have much higher minimums than they used to. Metal Tech also has steep minimums. Electrofinishing is another shop in WA that I’ve used and they were great but they don’t answer calls any more and you can’t leave them a message.

I’m only asking here as a last resort thinking someone here may have a good source. It doesn’t have to be in WA. I’m fine with shipping. Thanks for any recommendations.
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Has anyone tried these guys? I haven’t used them myself, but have been considering them.

Detail Plating
220 Machado Lane
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805) 441-5390
 
I think cadmium plating has been banned. Dr. Google says, "Cadmium plating is banned due to its high toxicity and the associated health risks, including pulmonary irritation, kidney disease, and lung cancer. Additionally, in space flight electronic systems, cadmium can sublimate in a vacuum environment, leading to short circuits".

Yesterday I was in our local welding supply shop to get some silver solder. Some was labelled "cadmium free". One package still had cadmium in it.
 
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Contact Caswell.com. They sell small plating kits that are easy to use and give good results. Start one up and you will have other guys coming to you for work and you can easily recoup your investment. It might also require the ability to glass bead or grit blast the parts. I think Eastwood also has a smaller outfit. Caswell is probably too expensive for a small lot. Good luck, PHIL
 
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I have had thousands of parts white zinc plated for pennies each. It’s basically the same finish as a hardware store bolt.

Barrett Plating in Ankeny, Iowa will do a whole 5 gallon bucket full for $100. I drop my bucket off in person, so don’t know about any shipping policies.

Anything that will fit in the bucket works. They use a rolling drum with 1/4” holes to dunk the whole group into the liquid. So obviously your parts can’t be smaller than 1/4”.
 
alchemy said:
I have had thousands of parts white zinc plated for pennies each. It’s basically the same finish as a hardware store bolt.

Barrett Plating in Ankeny, Iowa will do a whole 5 gallon bucket full for $100. I drop my bucket off in person, so don’t know about any shipping policies.

Anything that will fit in the bucket works. They use a rolling drum with 1/4” holes to dunk the whole group into the liquid. So obviously your parts can’t be smaller than 1/4”.
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There is a tremendous difference between "Clear " zinc, as you posted and true "Cadmium" plating....As mentioned previously, cad plating is very toxic NOT to mention the constant pressure from the EPA via inspections, handling and waste of such.......hence also why Chrome plating is getting the way it is!!! True Cad plating is therefore way more expensive and harder to deal with.
 
Zinc is cheap and easily and does not accurately replicate cadmium. We use R&S plating (andy is the owner) in Indiana. We ship them around 300lbs a month. they have a 100 dollar minimum.
 
35fordtn said:
Zinc is cheap and easily and does not accurately replicate cadmium. We use R&S plating (andy is the owner) in Indiana. We ship them around 300lbs a month. they have a 100 dollar minimum.
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I think R&S is one of the shops I emailed. I haven’t heard back yet but they sound promising with a $100 minimum. I have made a few dozen of the ignition switch cases for the later column drops and would like to have them cad plated before offering them for sale. Thanks for the help.
 

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If one were to need an additional hobby and time eater, I can recommend the Copy Cad setup stuff from Caswell. What restoman mentioned above. I've done probably a bucketful of vintage British motorcycle pieces. Labor intensive, fussy. But it looks better and lasts longer than I ever expected.
 
Another positive vote for Caswell Copy Cad. It takes practice to learn to use the kit for best results, but is well worth it. I replated many dozens of fasteners under the hood of my 1950 Crestliner in 2008. We were just commenting at a show this past weekend how all those nuts, bolts, etc. have held up with no deterioration. For fasteners that are supposed to be zinc, you can polish the cadmium enough to make them bright like zinc.

Last fall I refreshed the chemicals in my kit and repeated the process on a 1950 Convertible. The results are outstanding.

One note - be sure to invest in a good regulated DC power supply.

Ken
 
I am aware of the Caswell copy cad plating system and I have seriously considered it, but for me it makes more sense to mail them out to a professional. If I had more time, I would probably enjoy messing around with the Caswell plating system.
 
OldGold360 said:
I think R&S is one of the shops I emailed. I haven’t heard back yet but they sound promising with a $100 minimum. I have made a few dozen of the ignition switch cases for the later column drops and would like to have them cad plated before offering them for sale. Thanks for the help.
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Just an update for anybody wondering…

R&S called me and said that cad plating 30 small pieces would be $250 and he assured me that is a good deal. Actually it’s more than anyone else I’ve talked with. He also said he will not accept any payment other than cash, not even a company check or money order, and to mail him $250 cash. No $100 minimum at R&S for those that were wondering.
 
The absolute best cad plating that I am aware of is Co-Op in Michigan, contact Mike Hughes. I have also had acceptable cad plating from Quality Plating in Plymouth, Michigan.
Co-Op did all of the cad on my scooter.
Tom
 

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Hello hotcoupe,

Nice Indian motorcycle you have there.

Here are two of my old ones....

Brown one is a 1936 Simplex Servi Cycle
Green one is a 1949 Simplex Servi Cycle

Bruce in Ca.
 

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