Neil:
Tgood is correct! Take your time to prep the part and you will come out way ahead when you get to the plating stage.
Cyanide copper will cover better in recesses and can plate a wider range of metals then acid copper. Ive used cyanide copper in the past and the hassles/hazards are NOT worth it! Use the flash copper or another type bath for a strike plate.
Acid copper will be your workhorse though for filling scratches and pits.
Do you have the levelers/brightners correct in your bath?
Sometimes I have to plate corroded auto parts up to 3 seperate times at 1 to 1.5 hours each time. Its a long process.......thats why plating costs so much! You cant just dip it
(wish you could! )
48BUICK