[chromo]

Sorry, I have to disagree, Caswells instructions ARE NOT worthless! They are good, also the plating manual is good, if you have it then read it. If not, maybe buy it? I have the older manual from years ago and still read it at times, lot's of good stuff in there.

WHY are you BLASTING chrome off parts? That's my first question! Maybe you have a reason?
You don't really say what your trying to plate on your parts either or type of parts, Silver, gold, brass, new chrome, etc... Car emblems, door handles, water faucets, bumpers?
You can simply remove the Chrome top coating and leave the Nickel which is under the chrome. If the Nickel is not pitted or other damage polish the nickel and plate over it. I forget what all plates over the nickel, I know I was removing chrome, polishing, then gold plating over the original nickel.
I think I did plate copper over nickel to fix defects, buff/polish, then plate over the copper again, been awhile since I did such though. That was like repairing a car bumper just to make it look decent but not show perfect.

It's been awhile since I did much of this, but as I recall it may have been reverse currant and battery acid that electrically removed the chrome and did not harm the nickel under it. It's in the plating manual I beleave. Most everything I did like this was steel parts perhaps some pot metal, no aluminum stuff though that I recall.
I had the online download version of the manual, it's on my other computer which is not working at the moment or I would look it up for you if it would help.