[jf]

I've successfully plated over steel and zinc with copper. Buffing has been a frustration. First of all, sandblasting off old chrome does not work with glass beeds. You must use the black stuff (silicon carbide?). (Not explained in Caswell instructions). When you use the black stuff it leaves a rough finish, so then you have to sand, sand, sand before buffing. OK now on to buffing. I'm using the white compound as recommended by Caswell. The black gunk (compound) created while buffing sticks to the part. Some have said that the part is not hot enough and the compound is not liquifying. If I put enough pressure on the part to heat it up, that wears off the copper and I have to replate copper. Buffing is not rocket science so do I have bad compound, bad buffing wheels or what. What am I doing wrong...too much compound?, too little compound?, wrong speed?, too much pressure?, too little pressure?, too hot?, too cold?. Somebody out there has to have a source for buffing instructions other than Caswells, which are worthless.