Everything you wanted to know about Cadmium

[Andras]

Okay guys, here it is, everything you wanted to know about cadmium plating:

1. Cadmium plating is a metal-dipped process, which uses cyanide. Therefore, it is toxic (to say the least), and very few platers use it.

2. The item is dipped, and it comes out plated (long process but short summary).

3. The yellow color is a chromate which protects the cadmium, which can tarnish without it.

4. One can strip the yellow chromate (which is also a sacrificial coating) using Mother's Metal Polish, and you will be left with a nicely polished metal, silver in color.

5. So far, after 2 years in Florida weather, my stripped pieces are still shiny and silvery.

Ergo, I may send a few peices to be plated, but might not send others.

For instance, the oil filler cap might go, but not the engine cover receiver in the rear deck. The coil strap might go, as might the fan strap, but maybe not the nuts and bolts.

So many decisions to make, and miles to go before I sleep!!!!

[banjomike]

Polsihing the cad plating isn't a very good idea. Not only is the plating process toxic, but the coating itself is also toxic. See my post on the other Cad plating thread:

Gold Zinc or Vanadium Plating

If you are dealing with old parts with the Cad plating it is best to replace the part or if the part is made of unobtanium (also a toxic heavy metal!) then have it cleaned up and replated with yellow zinc by someone who knows what they are doing.

[Andras]

Hi Mike,

I had polished a number of my cadmium parts two years ago, and they are still very shiny, still not corroded, still not rusty (and we live 2 miles from the ocean in Florida).

In addition, the polishing was done with Mother's Metal Polish, liberally slathered on the part, and then hand polished with a shop rag. This takes very little effort, the only thing that comes off is the yellow chromate (and the corrosion and staining along with it), leaving only bright, shiny, plated metal, which I presume is the cadmium without the chromate coating. And it can be done with two hands, a beer, and a cigar. A nice way to spend the evening.

Now, instead of looking at yellow-coated metal pieces under the engine cover, one can see bright, shiny, chromey metal pieces under the engine cover.

I really doubt that this process was toxic to either me or the shop rags I used to wipe off the chromate.