I would like to get my demountable rims zink plated or galvanized. There is a place in Spokane that will Galvanize them but the process subjects the rims to, I think he said 800 degrees in the dipping process. Do I have anything to worry about during this process? Will it warp the rims?
Thanks
Adam Corts;
I have all my rims POWDER COATED with ETI Beige Semi Gloss, High Solids Polyurethane from Technology/innovations/service/performance. I defy any one to tell the difference between Zinc and the above powder coat. I would think that any of your local powder coaters can order that powder in for you.
Another possibility is having them Zinc or Aluminum metal sprayed. I had the lock rings on our 1910 REO wheels done that way over 30 years ago and still no rust. Metal spray should not warp the rims.
Adam Corts;
Another (I HOPE) picture of a powder coated rim.
I had these hot dipped at the Valmont plant near Tulsa. No problem. They're fine. No need to resort to Oklahoma chrome out of a rattle can, or any of the other substitutions usually suggested. They were hot dipped originally, weren't they? No problem then, and no problem now.
Agree!
I had my '23's demountables plated in '86. They still look great with no rust inside or out. Tire irons don't scratch; they just leave a shiny mark that quickly fades into the background.
I agree with Steve on the hot dip Galvanizing process. I have had a lots of wheels dipped thru the years with good results. Some of the places in the Houston area are no longer there. It may be an environment issue???
Weren't the rims originally Cadmium plated?
Ron the Coilman
Cad's what I used.
Bruce's encyclopedia says demountable rims were zinc plated:
http://www.mtfca.com/encyclo/U-Z.htm#wheels
Zinc can be applied electrically and by dipping in melted zinc, don't know what process Ford used? A hot zinc dip gives a thicker layer so it'll be better for rust protection.
In the service bulletins Ford repair shops were recommended to paint rims with silver paint when they needed a new finish.
An item I watch for at auctions is galvanized roofing nails old enough to be hot dipped. The ones currently sold in stores are electroplated, and the layer of zinc is so thin that they turn to rust spots in a few years. For demountable rims, hot dip galvanizing is the way to go. It's both effective and correct.
Hot dipped galvanized is the most durable. I see a lot of 80 or 100 year old hot dipped galvanized items that still show the original zinc coating.
Has anyone seen an original hot dipped rim? If they were hot dipped I would think that you would still see many rims with some of the original heavy zinc coating today just like other old hot dipped items. Is there any T parts (other then maybe rims) that were hot dipped?
My guess is that originals were electroplated.
Jim
I have no proof one way or another, but I don't think rims were cadmium plated, unless it was much different than what is used today. Just think about how soon modern cadmium plated bolts start to rust or corrode, it doesn't take very long. I have a few 32x4 1/2 rear TT rims and a few 30x3 1/2 clinchers, both styles are Kelsey, that are very nearly if not NOS and they have between 60% to 85% of the original plating on them. They show none of the mottled appearance that hot dipped galvanizing does. Even the older hot dipped galvanized steel grain bins around here show that mottled surface right up until it starts to rust through. I am by no means an expert, just throwing my observations out there. I do think that the hot dipped galvanizing would be much better than cadmium plating though, correct or not. JMHO. Dave
Cadnium was discovered in 1817 but was not used in plating of metals until the 1930's so was not available for use on Model T's ( another myth)
If you wish to have your rims zinc plated, I suggest you get all four (or more), done at the same time. There are different colors of zinc.
There's a minimum charge whether it's one, four, or a dozen, so the more you get done at the same time the less the cost per rim will be.
My observation of cadmium has been like Dave's. It doesn't last long. It does shed paint, though. So when I have to use modern nuts or bolts I strip off the cadmium before I paint them black.
Steve, your plater must have used different stuff on your rims; mine still look great after 28 years.
Well, yes. If yours are cadmium I dare say my zinc plating is different. It's only been a couple of years, but so far the galvanized rims look fine.
Do the hot dipped rims have that galvanized crystal look?
Would truly original rims have been hot dipped or electro plated with zink? I have seen some rims that look NOS or at least still had some finish on them and it was hard to tell what type of zink finish was on them, dipped or electroplated.
Thanks for all the responses everyone!
Zinc plated, not hot dipped. I have about 3 sets of NOS rims and they are nice and smooth, not with drips and runs like hot dipped has. Dan.
Can anyone who has had rims galvanized somewhat recently give a general order of magnitude as to the cost per rim?
I have no idea if it would be $20 or $200.
Anyone willing to chirp in on cadmium would also be appreciated.
Also, my experience with galvanizing is that it looks shiny when new and then gets some oxidizing and looks dull. My 3 year old boat trailer is a good example.
Is the process for these rims different or will the finish dull over time?
Dan has it correct in my experience. I believe the rims were originally electo-plated zinc. This gives a smooth finish to the rim. It is not as durable as hot dip galvanising. If the rims are hot dipped, care should be taken to make sure all runs/drips and rough spots are worked off before mounting your tyres.
Allan from down under.
I don't have the paperwork in front of me, but if I remember correctly the minimum charge for having my rims hot dipped at Valmont was about $232. I had seven rims done, which works out to about $33 each. If I'd had them, I could have had many more done for the same minimum, which would have brought down the cost per rim considerably.
Yes, the shine does dull with age. I don't know about the crystalline appearance. The rims still look about the same as in my first picture above, but less shiny.
Yes, hot dip galvanizing is thicker and longer-lasting than the electroplated type. Runs/drips were not a major problem. They were few and easily filed down.
If I needed more rims done would I go with hot dip galvanizing again? In a heartbeat.
Thanks, Steve. Your rims looks really good. The main reason I would do it is for the durability. I wince every time I have to use a tire iron on my painted rims.
I realize this a drift , but Steve you brought back a good memory of a good Company.
I worked in galvanizing (1972) at Valmont in Valley Nebraska. "Valmont" is a combination of Valley and Fremont Nebraska. My cousin still works there.
Thanks for letting me share.