Brass Cyanide Plating Bath Storage — Cu-Zn Cyanide Alloy Electrolyte Tank Selection
Brass Cyanide Plating Bath Storage Tanks
Brass cyanide plating bath is an alkaline copper-cyanide / zinc-cyanide electrolyte (NaCN base, pH above 12) used to deposit a Cu-Zn alloy onto steel, brass, or zinc-die-cast substrate. If you run a plating line at a tire-cord, decorative-finishing, jewelry, hardware, or rubber-bonding shop, you need a tank that handles high-pH alkaline service, isolates cyanide securely, and gives you the fittings to dose, recirculate, and drain without a leak path.
We stock the tanks. We quote the freight. Talk to a specialist before you buy.
Quick Pick — Most Common Plating Bath Storage Configuration
For a typical 200–800 gallon-per-day plating line, the most common bath storage tank we ship is the Snyder Industries 1000-gallon HDPE vertical chemical tank. White HDPE for visual level check, vertical footprint to drop into a containment pad, 1.9 specific gravity rating that gives you a working safety margin over the 1.10–1.30 SG of a loaded brass cyanide bath. Pair it with EPDM gaskets and 316 stainless bolt-down hardware on any fitting that contacts the bath.
View the 1000 Gallon Tank — Listed at $1,902
Freight is quoted separately by ZIP. Get a freight quote or call 866-418-1777.
Material Compatibility for Brass Cyanide Plating Bath
Ratings reflect long-term storage of an alkaline cyanide electrolyte at typical operating temperature (25–45°C) and pH above 12. A = recommended, B = acceptable with monitoring, C = not recommended. For taller columns or higher-SG service, specify XLPE construction instead of standard HDPE.
| Material | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HDPE | A | Standard tank wall for ambient-temperature alkaline cyanide storage. Our most common spec. |
| XLPE (cross-linked polyethylene) | A | Same chemical resistance as HDPE with higher mechanical strength. Specify XLPE for taller tanks or higher-SG service. |
| FRP vinyl ester | A | Used when the bath runs hot or you need a corrosion-barrier liner. Higher cost than poly. |
| PVC / CPVC | B | Acceptable for piping and fittings, not full tank wall. Watch service temperature. |
| 304 stainless | C | Cyanide attacks stainless. Do not use 304 in direct bath contact. |
| 316 stainless | B | Acceptable for bolts, brackets, and short-contact hardware. Not recommended as a tank wall. |
| EPDM gasket | A | Recommended elastomer for fittings, manway gaskets, and bulkhead seals. |
| Viton (FKM) | C | Fluoroelastomers degrade in high-pH cyanide. Use EPDM instead. |
Compatible Tanks We Ship
All ten tanks below are stock-shippable LTL anywhere in the contiguous US. Pick by your daily bath volume and footprint. We mix Snyder, Chem-Tainer, Enduraplas, and Norwesco containment so you get the right body for the right service.
Snyder Industries 175 Gallon HDLPE Vertical Chemical Storage Tank
Compact day tank for small jewelry, hardware, or R&D plating lines. White HDLPE wall, vertical footprint fits a 36-inch containment pad. Listed at $762.
Snyder Industries 100 Gallon XLPE Vertical Chemical Storage Tank
Small footprint with the XLPE upgrade. Use this when you want cross-linked wall strength on a low-volume bench or sample-prep line. Listed at $793.
Snyder Industries 1000 Gallon HDPE Vertical Chemical Storage Tank
The workhorse for a typical 200–800 gpd plating line. White HDPE, 1.9 SG rating, drop-in for standard plating-shop containment. Listed at $1,902.
Snyder Industries 1100 Gallon XLPE Vertical Chemical Storage Tank
XLPE alternative to the 1000 HDPE workhorse. Step up the wall chemistry when the bath sees thermal cycling, high SG loading, or you want extra mechanical margin on a taller column. Listed at $2,497.
Chem-Tainer 500 Gallon Double Wall Vertical Chemical Storage Tank
Integrated double-wall poly — primary containment built into the tank shell, no separate pan required. Good fit for shops short on floor space or operating under stricter SPCC review. Listed at $2,599.
Snyder Industries 1550 Gallon HDPE Vertical Chemical Storage Tank
Step up for a larger tire-cord or rubber-bonding line that needs more buffer between makeup batches. Same HDPE chemistry, taller cylinder. Listed at $2,837.
Enduraplas 1100 Gallon White Vertical Storage Tank
Alternative brand at the 1000-gallon workhorse tier. White poly wall, vertical footprint. Useful when stock or lead-time on the Snyder workhorse is tight. Listed at $1,350.
Snyder Industries 3000 Gallon XLPE Vertical Double Wall Chemical Storage Tank
Integrated double-wall XLPE for a centralized brass-bath makeup tank serving multiple cells. SPCC-friendly: containment volume built into the outer shell. Listed at $18,570.
Snyder Industries 4100 Gallon XLPE Vertical Chemical Storage Tank, 1.5 SG
For a multi-bay plating operation or a central makeup tank serving multiple cells. XLPE wall handles the higher mechanical load of a tall column at working SG. Listed at $8,784.
Norwesco 500 Gallon Plastic Containment Tray
External secondary containment pan for any single-wall tank up to roughly 500 gallons of held volume. Drops under the tank pad to satisfy local fire-code and SPCC volume requirements. Listed at $959.
Need a different volume, color, or fitting layout? Call 866-418-1777 — we route through our 5-brand network (Norwesco, Snyder, Chem-Tainer, Enduraplas, Bushman) and quote the closest stock match.
Operational Notes — Storing Brass Cyanide Plating Bath Safely
- Hazard communication. Cyanide salts are acutely toxic. Container labels, SDS, and employee training are required under 29 CFR 1910.1200 (OSHA Hazard Communication).
- Hazardous waste codes. Spent bath solutions, plating bath residues, and stripping baths from cyanide plating are EPA-listed F007, F008, and F009 wastes under 40 CFR 261.31. Plan disposal accordingly.
- Acid segregation. Never store brass cyanide bath next to an acid tank without secondary containment. Acid + cyanide releases hydrogen cyanide gas. Pad layout matters.
- Ventilation. Plating-room ventilation should pull from the bath surface. Reference your local fire-code authority and the SDS for your bath formulation.
- Fittings. Specify EPDM gaskets and 316 stainless or polypropylene-bodied fittings on any port that contacts the bath. Skip Viton.
- Containment. Plate-and-pad secondary containment sized to 110% of the largest tank is standard practice and required by most local fire codes. A poly secondary containment pan under a single-wall tank is the simplest path to compliance; an integrated double-wall body removes the pan entirely.
- Larger active baths. For multi-bay shops or a central makeup tank serving four-plus cells, step the storage volume to a 3000-gallon XLPE double-wall tank so you batch makeup once a week instead of daily.