Electroplating is an economical process and is used with great success on small fasteners. However, its application to wireforms and welded fabrications, while economical, requires that the industry's plating standards, specifications and requirements be modified to balance basic corrosion protection needs with a practical approach to the value of wireforms and welded fabrications. A failure to do so will consume supplier-customer quality relations, waste resources, and decrease value.

Other Specifications Affecting Both Class 1 and Class 2 Plating:

• Only plating on areas classified as "Major Surfaces" will be inspected for plating thickness (see below).
• Thread classes will be viewed as 'after plate' unless otherwise specified on the drawing.
• Bearing surface areas must be clearly marked as to maximum diameter after plating and distance of protected area.
• Plating on threaded surfaces, internal and external, will be considered "reference" only.
• Plated and welded fabrications: black spots and bleed out will be allowable within two inches of any welded area unless noted on the drawing.
• Corners, surfaces, intersections, weld seams: any area that can be touched by a 20mm ball should be visibly coated. For areas that cannot be touched by a 20mm ball, plating coverage will be a "reference" requirement.
• Tubes that have the ends closed should have a drain hole specified on the blueprint to minimize the chance of seeping or bleed-out of plating solutions after plating.