In a message dated 9/26/01 9:03:35 AM Pacific Daylight Time, mlortie@ucsd.edu
writes:

<< cadmium .. !! is a soft metal that is very toxic.  not sure if its used in
aloys but it cant be just cadmium plate . >>

Well, I'm not eating off a plate made of cadmium and many of the things
around us are toxic. However, I have always found cadmium plated parts
resistant to corrosion. If you in your Vanagon/Westy/Syncro you will find
bolts, nuts, brake calipers which are cad plated already. For a quickie
glance, look at the bolts that are holding your seat belts in.

I happen to prefer the look of rainbow goldtone cad plating to chrome, zinc
(galvanized), or rhodium (silvery color) and other types of plating. I also
don't care to have iron oxide streak on my ally rims as the stock Vanagon
lugnuts will often leave as they corrode in wet climate.

just my 150 cents,
BenT