Re: Flash copper V acid copper
My advice is to get both.
Flash copper is great but slow to build. It will plate over pretty much anything as it is alkaline. Ideal as a substitute for strike coat. If you are doing pot metal (zinc castings)... get flash copper.
Acid copper will not plate over steel and is too acidic for pot metal. It will destroy pot metal.
What I do. Flash copper on all items requiring copper building or nickel plating. If the underlying material was say steel/brass or already nickel and in good condition (no pits or deep scratches) I leave it in the flash copper for an hour, then wet sand fine grit then another hour of flash copper then polish then finish with top plating coat.
If the item is in poor condition requiring thick copper build up I go to acid copper to build.
Hope this helps
Cheers
Mark
|