Electropolishing

[Sleepy_Pat]

My job has an electropoloishing and passivation department along with a few other stainless steel purifying processes and while it’s slow, I want to tinker lol. My question is, has anyone ever tried anything like this to prevent corrosion and overall cleanliness of certain parts? I imagine things like fuel pump internals wouldn’t be something to try it with, being that they are manufactured with tight tolerances and are also coated. Removing .003”-.005” of material may or may not make a huge difference but in the process would get rid of pitting and increase the lifespan of certain parts. I just want to play around with the idea just out of curiosity of the outcome

 

[Raider]

I would need to Google this, no idea what it is

 

[Sleepy_Pat]

I would need to Google this, no idea what it is

Basically the process removes free irons and impurity’s from metal in order to prevent wear and corrosion. It also minimizes peaks and pitting that our eyes can’t necessarily see

 

[Raider]

Oh cool. So what were you thinking about doing this to?

 

[Sleepy_Pat]

Oh cool. So what were you thinking about doing this to?

I haven’t decided yet. It’s ideal for things like springs, bolts, or tubing that are in constant contact with viscous/gummy or corrosive fluids and gasses. I imagined it applying well to fuel pump internals when running e85. I just don’t know if I want to throw down $300 just to see an outcome based on curiosity lol. So far I’ve done an alluminum shift knob but I’m curious to see how it effects the function of certain components rather than cosmetic

 

[5doorsoffury]

How much to electroplate my valve cover in gold???

Oh and i guess if i have to ask something relevent that isnt about awesome mirror finish gold bling bling parts... does it stop galvanic corrosion or deterioration of the exhaust bolt threads in a salty envorment like the spring bolts under the car or say prevent galling from dissimilar metal fasteners?

 

[Maisonvi]

removing that much material off of fuel pump internals would probably cause major issues. taking .005" off would really throw the tolerances way out Im betting.

 

[Sleepy_Pat]

How much to electroplate my valve cover in gold???

Oh and i guess if i have to ask something relevent that isnt about awesome mirror finish gold bling bling parts... does it stop galvanic corrosion or deterioration of the exhaust bolt threads in a salty envorment like the spring bolts under the car or say prevent galling from dissimilar metal fasteners?

Well the process we do does not actually plate anything. But it does create a chrome look depending on the type of material and how nice the finish is before the process. I would think that it would help with the effects of a salty environment. I’ll probably be testing it on some hardware on my car against the Portland winter this year!
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removing that much material off of fuel pump internals would probably cause major issues. taking .005" off would really throw the tolerances way out Im betting.

Yeah I figured as much. I can’t find any data on what type of steel they’re made out of. How much material that gets removed all depends on the purity and density of the material. I’m spitballing ideas trying to find something it could be useful for

 

[Maisonvi]

Yeah I figured as much. I can’t find any data on what type of steel they’re made out of. How much material that gets removed all depends on the purity and density of the material. I’m spitballing ideas trying to find something it could be useful for

Really automotive based, not a ton. You could make your self a fancy valve cover or Ive seen people polish out the HPFP housing and other stuff. But I have to imagine it gets dirty fast. We have electro polishing done here at work all the time for the large vacuum chambers we build sometimes.