Zinc plating DIY?

[Heath]

Is it possible to do small plating jobs at home, or is it just too expensive to consider and best left to the pros?

Just want to do small steel carb bits not big engine parts, so am wary of dropping off a pile of little bits (may not get them all back ).

I intend to clean them up (remove scale and corrosion) and polish them before plating.

Must be a simple home brew method that wont kill me or pollute the garage/garden with poisonous toxins.

[kbushnz]

This is what you want to do...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroless_nickel_plating
Just need to get the solution and then keep it warm while you hang in the bits..
We use it at work in our plating shop...
No electricity required to do the plating process.
I can find out at work what chemical they buy in, but I guess it wont be cheap.
If you get really stuck, post the bits up to me and I will get the lads to do it for you....