Sickness Options

[doug_b_928]

Oh, good to know (I haven’t touched it yet so thought it was metal). What’s the best option out there for the job?

[Mitox]

Looks great! And, the sickness is contagious

[914_teener]

That.s an amazing job.

One of the hardest things I.ve done on a 914 is installing that back in the car.

[Targa70]

Although tempted, I did not use paint. The system is black plastic with no paint unless it is overspray. The easy off just serves as a paint remover, but you can’t leave it on there very long or it will start to eat at the plastic. For the record @defianty , your job drove me to this.

[bbrock]

Oh, good to know (I haven’t touched it yet so thought it was metal). What’s the best option out there for the job?

Can't really say. All I know is that brake fluid works but isn't fun and is nasty stuff to work with. My experience with oven cleaner (never used it to remove paint from plastic) is that it is not fun and is nasty stuff to work with. I guess pick your poison.

I think it's interesting that there are 3 different approaches/restoration levels presented in this thread now: cleaned and polished, cleaned and painted, and just cleaned. Looking at these, I may need to polish mine now. For sure I need to have the hardware re-plated!

[jim_hoyland]

Does the shine come from dancing with 1,000 and 2,000 grit W/D ? Or, it there more to be done ...

[Targa70]

Yep, w/d 1K/2K sandpaper Worked great for the big areas like the front of the box. I also really liked the Autosol and Magic Eraser for the more contoured and hard to reach areas.

[jim_hoyland]

Yep, w/d 1K/2K sandpaper Worked great for the big areas like the front of the box. I also really liked the Autosol and Magic Eraser for the more contoured and hard to reach areas.

What is Autosol ? Is is like Simple Green ? Never seen it in a store ...,

[Targa70]

Autosol is a metal polish I first heard about on here. Turns out is does a good job on plastic. Probably lots of products like it, but it worked for me.

[cary]

If your sending your bits out for plating. Make sure they get baked.
Spring steel needs to be baked to keep from getting brittle.
Seems my batches are inconsistent at being baked so I'm going to make sure I request it next time I have springs in the batch. I haven't had one of the c clips break yet. But I've heard stories.

[rgalla9146]

If your sending your bits out for plating. Make sure they get baked.
Spring steel needs to be baked to keep from getting brittle.
Seems my batches are inconsistent at being baked so I'm going to make sure I request it next time I have springs in the batch. I haven't had one of the c clips break yet. But I've heard stories.

I think it's known as 'hydrogen embrittlement'

[rgalla9146]

If your sending your bits out for plating. Make sure they get baked.
Spring steel needs to be baked to keep from getting brittle.
Seems my batches are inconsistent at being baked so I'm going to make sure I request it next time I have springs in the batch. I haven't had one of the c clips break yet. But I've heard stories.

I think it's known as 'hydrogen embrittlement'
The detail work is fantastic. I'm jealous. DP !

[jim_hoyland]

Autosol is a metal polish I first heard about on here. Turns out is does a good job on plastic. Probably lots of products like it, but it worked for me.

Thanks: (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[bbrock]

If your sending your bits out for plating. Make sure they get baked.
Spring steel needs to be baked to keep from getting brittle.
Seems my batches are inconsistent at being baked so I'm going to make sure I request it next time I have springs in the batch. I haven't had one of the c clips break yet. But I've heard stories.

@cary , curious if you use any kind of acid to clean spring steel before having them plated and baked. I've read that acid clean can contribute to hydrogen embrittlement and I have used vinegar to dissolve heavy rust off many parts. My hope is that this kind of exposure to a mild acid isn't a problem. I also know the parts are typically dipped in strong acid prior to plating so I'm thinking as long as they are baked at the end of the process, it should be okay.

BTW, the US military found that long term exposure to Simple Green also causes hydrogen embrittlement. I learned that on a woodworking site because Simple Green is commonly used to clean pitch off of saw blades. Works great, but if you soak the blade overnight, you are asking for trouble.

[Targa70]

Man, it now makes sense. When I was putting the springs on the drain tubes, post plating, I broke three of them. It is a good thing I had more plated than I needed because they snapped as I was compressing them. I suspected the metal had fatigued due to a combination of age and chemical treatment. Now I know is was "hydrogen embrittlement". The World is also a chemistry class it seems. For future plating I will certainly request the metal be baked.

[gms]

That is some nice work Bill!
Can't wait to see the car in person (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[mepstein]

If your sending your bits out for plating. Make sure they get baked.
Spring steel needs to be baked to keep from getting brittle.
Seems my batches are inconsistent at being baked so I'm going to make sure I request it next time I have springs in the batch. I haven't had one of the c clips break yet. But I've heard stories.

@cary , curious if you use any kind of acid to clean spring steel before having them plated and baked. I've read that acid clean can contribute to hydrogen embrittlement and I have used vinegar to dissolve heavy rust off many parts. My hope is that this kind of exposure to a mild acid isn't a problem. I also know the parts are typically dipped in strong acid prior to plating so I'm thinking as long as they are baked at the end of the process, it should be okay.

BTW, the US military found that long term exposure to Simple Green also causes hydrogen embrittlement. I learned that on a woodworking site because Simple Green is commonly used to clean pitch off of saw blades. Works great, but if you soak the blade overnight, you are asking for trouble.

In the cycling world, we learned that soaking the chain in simple green will weaken it and the plates will crack and break.

[cary]

If your sending your bits out for plating. Make sure they get baked.
Spring steel needs to be baked to keep from getting brittle.
Seems my batches are inconsistent at being baked so I'm going to make sure I request it next time I have springs in the batch. I haven't had one of the c clips break yet. But I've heard stories.

@cary , curious if you use any kind of acid to clean spring steel before having them plated and baked. I've read that acid clean can contribute to hydrogen embrittlement and I have used vinegar to dissolve heavy rust off many parts. My hope is that this kind of exposure to a mild acid isn't a problem. I also know the parts are typically dipped in strong acid prior to plating so I'm thinking as long as they are baked at the end of the process, it should be okay.

BTW, the US military found that long term exposure to Simple Green also causes hydrogen embrittlement. I learned that on a woodworking site because Simple Green is commonly used to clean pitch off of saw blades. Works great, but if you soak the blade overnight, you are asking for trouble.

No, not as a general rule. If plating is coming off sometimes I'll soak them in vinegar to remove. Going forward never on springs. Usual prep is blasting cabinet or wire wheel.

I'd like to thank everyone for the chemistry lesson.

[worn]

Really nice job! I plan to do a similar job (without the plating) this winter. I'm curious, does the easy off somehow not remove the black paint below the overspray in a way that laquer thinner would?

Unless a PO painted it, there is just black plastic under the overspray - no paint. Anything that softens paint without damaging the plastic will work. I used brake fluid but it was a slow, messy process and brake fluid is not fun to work with.

You guys got it bad. Only cure is cowbell. If that. Also to original poster, well done!