[CarWiz]

The balls are used to reduce the steam (mist) and thus the lost of water in the tank. They don't stop it completely but certainly makes a big difference and helps maintain the chemical balance in the tank. They act as condensers that collect the steam and condense it back to water. They also act as an insulator to help maintain the tank temperature. (Temperature loss at the surface.)

I've never heard of "non-ferrous" steel but the touching of copper and it's alloys with a steel rod is needed to start the plating reaction. The procedure is not needed for other alloys--Just copper. When the copper alloy item to be plated is submersed in the tank, touch the item with a clean steel rod until the item starts to emit bubbles. Once this reaction starts, withdraw the rod, add your mist balls and start your timing cycle. You can use any steel rod. I've used a screwdriver, drill rod and cleaned welding rod (removed copper coating). Just make sure it's not zinc coated. Zinc will dissolve in the nickel bath and contaminate the batch if done a lot.

The 300w heater that came with my kit will indeed bring the tank to a boil (212* at MSL) but you should not let the tank get that hot. The optimum plating temperature is 185-195. Plating will start at a lower temperature but it doesn't level out or will look pitted. Wait for the tank to reach at least 185 before placing the part in the tank.

Yes, clean the heater before use. I used it to heat the cleaning bath the first time then rinsed and placed in the nickel bath. You could just dip it in your already hot cleaning tank and rinse if you already have a separate heater for it. After you finish plating, unplug the heater and let the tank cool a little before removing the heater. If you remove the heater right after plating, it retains a lot of heat and will burn or discolor. Remove then rinse the heater. It's best not store the heater in the nickel bath.

Hope this helps.

By the way, did you get a ceramic or titanium heater with your kit?