Rustproofing bolts?

soap

Forum Member
Has anyone ever rustproofed a bolt, if so how? Can you coat them (electroplate, anodize etc)? I can not use anti seize so that's not an option. Most of the info I have come across says to coat them in oil etc, but that is not an option either. I need the bolts to be clean/dry.

The bolts I have are chromoly with just a black powdered finish, so they are going to rust fast.

Anyone has some insight?

--Joe
 
Can you replace the bolts with an alternative metal that doesn't contain iron? e.g. stainless steel, aluminum? Hard to suggest the right path w/o knowing the usage.

There are galvanized bolts, although IME, that just slows down / pauses the rusting - they will rust eventually.

Or can you just use those bolts as-is, and then coat them with a clear coat like clear fingernail polish after installed, if possible.

Hard to say w/o knowing the scenario.
 
Hi temp
Clear coat an option? Degrease then we’ll before spraying them and try to keep the clear off the threads.
 
I did a lot of powder coat work for a guy and he took all the hardware and had it ceramic coated......

I thought that sounded funny, he might have not understood the process he was having done or he infact got them ceramic coated.
 
Can't get an alternate material. They are wheel studs and I'm sick of them getting rust on my lugnuts and wheels. ARP does not make the size I have.

--Joe
 
You said no antiseize but what about coating the studs with it like they used to do on exhaust manifolds . I did it on the turn plate pins on my alignment rack cause I got tired of them rusting in but didn’t want it making a mess every time I had them out
 
You said no antiseize but what about coating the studs with it like they used to do on exhaust manifolds . I did it on the turn plate pins on my alignment rack cause I got tired of them rusting in but didn’t want it making a mess every time I had them out

That's not a bad idea. I just hate looking like the Silver Surfer after taking off a set of lugnuts.

--Joe
 
This is crazy. Been on the phone with 10-12 places this morning, they are acting like I'm talking Russian to them.

Me - "Hi I'm looking to get a set of wheel studs zinc plated."

Them - "What type of material are they?"

Me - "They are chromoly steel."

Them - "I'm sorry sir we do not get into chrome plating."

This happened with 2 different places. FML

--Joe
 
I used to take buckets of bolts and hardware to J & L Plating & Sandblasting at 21733 Dequindre Rd, Hazel Park, MI 48030.

Small shop, happy to take smaller orders, usually $100 or so for a 5 gal bucket. You want bright cadmium, as it has longest salt spray resistance.

They might do a smaller batch as well.

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PM sent Joe

You want a zinc dichromate coating.
Usually done in clear, yellow, green, or black.

These are now yellow zinc dichromate. 4140 steel.
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