Vacuum Control Valve Plating

[jeffmader]

I need to get my vacuum control valve re - plated.  The piece on the end is aluminum and my plater has warned me that the aluminum will disintegrate in the plating process.  Doesn't look like it comes part easily.  Any suggestions as to what I can do.  Thanks.

 

Jeff Mader

[Patcon]

Plated how? If you want it to look better just buff it. It was unlikely it was ever plated if it is aluminum...

Charles

[Captain Obvious]

They probably put that aluminum portion at the bottom of the cup to add additional material for threads. And they probably used aluminum because it's easier to machine than steel. It's clearly swaged/peened in place and I doubt you would be able to get it out in good enough shape to be able to bend it a third time back into place without cracking it. In fact, I doubt you'd even be able to get it out without cracking off the material that's been bent into retaining position.

 

Hmmm... So ideas?

 

1) Drill it out, make a polished aluminum replacement with a few threads on the inside and use a nut to hold it in place. You got room for a nut on the inside?

 

2) Drill it out, make a steel replacement, silver braze it into place, and send the whole thing off for plating as a unit.

 

3) Carefully drill/grind off as little of the the peened material off the inside required to get it out and then JB weld it back into place after plating.

 

It's gotta hold vacuum, right?