I am having a lot of trouble with my 1gal CC tank. The nickel will not stick to anything!
I am not new to plating, and have other tanks that all work fine (zinc, flash and acid copper, chrome). My tank has never worked since the day I bought it-very frustrating. Temps are around 100deg, have a rectifier, so amperage and voltage are all adjustable. Just today I tried to plate a shifter lever on my 68GTX and again got a peeling plate that came up with just a little hand polishing with compound.
Prep: sandblast all chrome and nickel down to bare steel. Acid etch with muriatic for 15 min. Rinse in regular, then distilled water. SP degreaser for 10 min. distilled water again, water test ok
Tank: preheat to 100deg, anodes in with bandages, tank heater left on. plated dummy (ratchet handle) for 10 min @ 5amps, 4.5 volt
Plate: Part was final rinsed with distilled, then directly in tank. Manual agitation. Part is around 15 sq in, amps set at 1.5 amps, around 2 volts. Initial plate (1-2 min) was dark and uneven-this is what I get every time, even with increased (3 amp) or decreased (barely shows on meter) current. Pulled from tank and rinsed with distilled. Under running tap (high ph well)water, sanded plate with 600 grit paper until even and smooth. Before water has a chance to sheet off, rinse with distilled and placed in tank again. 1-2 min later, plate much better but still a few dark/uneven spots. Repeat tap water polish with 600 grit. After this plate goes on decent (some bright spots/haze, but not bad) for the remainder of the immersion time (20 min).
Polish: Initial 600 grit to smooth light pitting, followed by 2000 grit and final polish with Autosol.
Problem: Portions of plate peeled in three layers, right down to the steel substrate with only light fingernail rub. Worst area was where the tank solution water line had met the part (only 3/4 of part needed plated). Any help would be greatly appreciated. Should I try to adjust the PH? Adhesion on copper substrate is even worse- bubbles form while plating!