[fxstcguy98]

Alum can be a pain. Try this, zincate the part, rinse, strip zincate in nitric or sulfuric/water and zincate again. Don't drip dry the part, rinse immediatly after zincate and go into the flash copper "live" (power on). For the first 30 seconds or so, have the amps higher than what you calculated. This will make sure that the copper gets on before the part can oxidize (that's what the zincate is for). Too many amps and you will burn the plate, not enough and it may blister, you have to play with that a little. After the first 30sec, roll the amps back down to the calculated value for the rest of the cycle. Flash copper is always dull, you have to polish it before going into the nickle. Some cast alum will outgas and cause blisters no matter how much you try. Good luck man. Don't pull all your hair out, you will need a bunch of it if you try potmetal.