ruffrecords
Well-known member
When I started the Mark 3 tube mixer design one of the objectives was to replace the expensive extruded aluminium module enclosures with a simpler cheaper design. To cut a long story short the final design uses a single steel sheet because it screens both electrically and magnetically (which the aluminium ones did not). A while back I got some cold rolled mild steel cut to size and used it for building mock ups and prototypes. Some months later I notice the steel is starting to rust. So now I am on the hunt for the kind of steel typically used in Neve modules - you know the sort with the kind of buttery golden finish. I have not idea what this is called but I have been surfing extensively. I have come across a materiel called Zintec (also known as electro zinc)which is mild steel with a thin electrolytically applied coating of zinc. According to one web site:
"Zintec is the trade name for a form of treated mild steel that has been treated with a thin layer of zinc, which protects the steel against corrosion and rust. Cold reduced, mild steel sheet is first electrolytically cleaned and then pickled to give it a clean, smooth oxide free surface before it’s coated with a uniform, electrolytic deposit of zinc or a zinc-nickel alloy. We use Zintec sheet metal for metal work that doesn’t need a full zinc plate treatment but would rust if only made from mild steel. Many internal components are ideally suited to zintec steel such as electronics chassis, lighting gear trays, brackets, sheet metal enclosures and cabinets and any sheet metal fabrications that won’t be getting wet and are not cosmetically important."
So it looks like it will do the job, it is relatively inexpensive but apparently it is a dull grey in colour so it is not the stuff Neve used. There seems to be further passivation processes you can apply to zinc coated steel to further improve corrosion resistance, some of which also alters the appearance. But I am not closer to finding the correct name for the material or process I need. Any idea?
Cheers
Ian
"Zintec is the trade name for a form of treated mild steel that has been treated with a thin layer of zinc, which protects the steel against corrosion and rust. Cold reduced, mild steel sheet is first electrolytically cleaned and then pickled to give it a clean, smooth oxide free surface before it’s coated with a uniform, electrolytic deposit of zinc or a zinc-nickel alloy. We use Zintec sheet metal for metal work that doesn’t need a full zinc plate treatment but would rust if only made from mild steel. Many internal components are ideally suited to zintec steel such as electronics chassis, lighting gear trays, brackets, sheet metal enclosures and cabinets and any sheet metal fabrications that won’t be getting wet and are not cosmetically important."
So it looks like it will do the job, it is relatively inexpensive but apparently it is a dull grey in colour so it is not the stuff Neve used. There seems to be further passivation processes you can apply to zinc coated steel to further improve corrosion resistance, some of which also alters the appearance. But I am not closer to finding the correct name for the material or process I need. Any idea?
Cheers
Ian