Hello, I am new to this forum. Hope I can be of service. But for now I have a problem. I am refinishing an old 1873 Winchester. It had been reblued over rust spots, after polishing and engraving it I dug out my 20 year old cyanide copper and acid nickle plating stuff. Followed the instructions and every part plated fine except for one of two side plate. Rinsed well and soaked in baking powder. I got specks of rust coming threw. So I stripped the plating off using [can I mention the brand name?] solution. It works well and doesn't pit the base metal. I was thinking that I didn't get the copper thick enough, so I replated leaving it in longer and it still rust specked. I think the base metal is cast iron, the funning thing is none of the other piece rusted.
10 inch sq. surface area, battery charger showed about 2 amps, 2.5 volts. Used a old coiled heating burner to ajust the volts. 140 degrees of the copper bath. 95 for the nickle. rinsed in water and hydrochloric acid before the copper, 10% sulphuric acid before the nickle. about 4 minutes each in the copper and nickle.
I am donating my time for a local gun club on this job so I really need some help. Thanks