I've just been and bought some M8 nuts and bolts to mount my gaerbox mount. I'm using captivated nuts and so have to weld 'em.
The only ones the place had was "plated" they're a nice shiny silver but I'm wondering what they're plated with and how will it effect welding ? Will I need to grind the plating off the areas I'm going to weld ?

Cheers

http://www.roadkill.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/locost/page_01.htm

Choice of 2 common finishes:

zinc plating: matt, vaguely bluish tinge. A common finish for nuts & bolts. Doesn't do much for either the weld quality or lung condition when welded. Needs to be lightly ground off where the nut is to be welded. Make sure that there's a reasonable supply of fresh air, & don't breath any obvious fumes, although there won't be much when fixing a nut with small welds.

chrome plate: do they look like little mirrors, and did you pay a high price for them? If not, they're probably zinc! Don't know about weldability, but it's an expensive way of doing things.

cheers,

David

Probably Zinc, not shiny enough for chrome I wouldn't have called it matt though..

Cheers for that David

yeap, without a doubt, grid any bzp off, like the man says, not only does it spit n fart when you weld it, it's not to healthy either...green smoke is the clue ere.....

Right then, let me write that down;

Green smoke = BAD

Gotcha