NICKEL PLATING CAST IRON 3. AFTER NICKEL PLATING
by John
3 photos of the beam engine column
1. The casting, roughly the shape, with a very tough external layer
2 After turning, nicely shaped and shiny, but quickly develops surface rust
3. After nickel plating, not perfect, but not bad for a beginner. The nickel only plated those surfaces which had been machined. A few deep pits on the surface did not accept the nickel plating. I had conflicting advice about the adviseabilty of plating cast iron, but overall, I am quite pleased with end result. I might have overdone the electroplating brightener additive. One colleague called it engine “bling”.
johnsmachines 
The old engine houses of their day had plenty of Bling and where real showcases of the technology of the day. While a little brighter than the paint full size machine would have had I think it really suits the model.
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Looking forward to seeing it back together again.
I used the milling machine to finish a turned plate today. Excellent result. The mill also held some sanding heads that I used as well for an excellent result.
Peter W Viggers 0429 184 092
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