[Phlogiston]

Bob,

I got the zinc for plating. It was cheap from Amazon (I would include their logo but I think that it is a forum violation - you know - there are kids (and Kirk) here).

I tried a sodium carbonate dielectric solution. I think that it was working but very slow - SO - I changed to acid (about 2 tbs in about 1/2 gallon of warm water). Much faster. Until  the solution built up some zinc sulfate (speculation). Then I had to reduce the voltage to get the current inline which Caswell says should be about .14A per sq. in. at a PH. of 5.5. If you go too fast you get a black finish with lots of soot in the solution.

If you go r-e-a-l slow you can get a shinier galvanized look, but going fast ( a couple of minutes for a Zenith IF can) you get a blue-grey finish - - like what you see on a Zenith IF can. So that is what I got.

You can give me a call, or read a book, but I would avoid some of the U-Tube how tos.

P.S. just realized that Zinc sulphate is one of the components of fertilizer. Should have dumped it on the grass.