Looking for a hardware source in Winnipeg

[Bob Carriere]

You can sandblast but its slow.....

I found that using the small gun blueing bottles and dipping in the solution turns the plating slightly rough and dark color. Will even work on bolts already installed by dabbing with a small paint brush..... makes the OD color stay on better.

[Phil Waterman]

Hi

One trick that I found works pretty good to dull hardware plating is to dip it in metal prep. It dulls the plating and makes paint stick to it much better. You need to wash the the metal prep off, I find hot water works best to wash with.

Wtih the 1/4x20 floor screws wanting to keep the plating on the threads just stand the screws on their heads in a shallow pan of metal prep for 5-10 minutes then wash.

With fender bolts, flat washers and lock washers I just throw all the hardware in a basket spray down really good with metal prep let stand for 5-10 minutes then wash down with hot water the hotter the better then dump all the hardware out too dry before using them.

Cheers Phil

[Jack Innes]

I have found that Muriatic Acid (dilute hydrochloric acid) will totally remove the bright chromate plating from modern fasteners. It is very fast & easily washes off with water. This is available at most hardware stores & is used to clean concrete & as a drain cleaner.

It is best to submerge the parts in the acid until the fizzing stops. The same acid will clean hundreds of fasteners if you keep it in a jar with a lid.

Eye protection, rubber gloves & good ventilation are a must.

Heavily plated items will leave a dark residue which comes off with a wire wheel easily prior to painting.

[wheaty]

To remove the plating off of nuts, bolts and screws us any of the RUST cleaners available at any Canadian Tire store, Princess Auto or your local auto shop.
Evaporust works well as does LLoyds which is available at Princess Auto.
The best was phosphoric acid which Canadian tire sold under their brand of rust remover but phosphoric acid has now been removed from the shelves.
Still used in food but not sold on the domestic market anymore.
If you need a large amount you can order food grade in Canada and believe it or not is is "kosher".
Go figure....
Remember to thoroughly wash all stripped components in cold water, then flush with hot water and then spray with LPS 2 to prevent rust flashing.
I clean plating off fasteners on a weekly basis, however if you are looking for a source of none plated fasteners PM me as a chap I deal with has everything you would never need. PM me and I'll pass his contact info on to you.
He is in Oregon and I'd post it here now but cannot remember his business name right now but have it in my source book downstairs.

[rob love]

Warren: Welcome to the forum....nice to see you here. I hope you will be long time resident, as I know you are a wealth of knowledge.

Canadian tire now sells metal-prep from POR-15, which I believe is phosphoric acid. I use it for the final clean the inside of gas tanks before coating them with the lining, so I can't speak as to how it works on plating of hardware.

[wheaty]

Rob: Thanks for the welcome and I actually have been a "lurker" here for about 10 years. Just never had the time to post but hope to be able to spread a bit of knowledge on some subjects.

[Robert Bergeron]

Hi Warren, welcome to MLU.

Post as often as you like.

Your knowledge is greatly needed and appreciated.

Robert