Plating Powder Coating Buffing Anodizing - Caswell Inc. Metal Finishing Forum  

Go Back   Plating Powder Coating Buffing Anodizing - Caswell Inc. Metal Finishing Forum > Electroplating Questions

Notices

Electroplating Questions Discussion Board For Electroplating and Electroless plating.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 05-26-2005, 10:38 AM
Newbie
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 14
gtabadboy
Default Keep getting blisters in flash copper plating...HELP

I am new at this. I sanded and prepped the part. Cleaned it in sp degreaser then distilled water. Then I zincated the aluminum part...let it drip dry then went into the flash copper.

After plating there are small blisters that I can pop and peel. Why is this happening. Also after nickel plating the flash copper it is not shiny. When I did the practice copper pieces in the nickel it looked like chrome. I just cant get past the flash copper stage. All the parts that I am doing are aluminum.
Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 06-18-2005, 06:37 AM
fly fly is offline
Amateur Metal Finisher
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: beaumont misssissippi
Posts: 310
fly will become famous soon enoughfly will become famous soon enough
Default

Make sure you don't have your amps to high and your temp. to low. After you flash copper go into your acid copper and then polish before you nickle.
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 11-14-2005, 09:15 PM
Newbie
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Quebec
Posts: 30
moto-chrome is on a distinguished road
Unhappy Re: Keep getting blisters in flash copper plating...HELP

I have been fighting this same problem for weeks. If I can figure it out you'll be the first to know.
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 11-14-2005, 11:57 PM
Newbie
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 19
smokeycity
Default Re: Keep getting blisters in flash copper plating...HELP

That Is Not Your Problem Your Problem Is Nickle Strike You Must Nickle Strike After You Zinc. Drip Dry. Always Dip Part Into Distilled Water Befor Going Into Another Bucket
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 11-15-2005, 10:39 AM
Amateur Metal Finisher
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 203
fxstcguy98 is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Keep getting blisters in flash copper plating...HELP

Alum can be a pain. Try this, zincate the part, rinse, strip zincate in nitric or sulfuric/water and zincate again. Don't drip dry the part, rinse immediatly after zincate and go into the flash copper "live" (power on). For the first 30 seconds or so, have the amps higher than what you calculated. This will make sure that the copper gets on before the part can oxidize (that's what the zincate is for). Too many amps and you will burn the plate, not enough and it may blister, you have to play with that a little. After the first 30sec, roll the amps back down to the calculated value for the rest of the cycle. Flash copper is always dull, you have to polish it before going into the nickle. Some cast alum will outgas and cause blisters no matter how much you try. Good luck man. Don't pull all your hair out, you will need a bunch of it if you try potmetal.
Reply With Quote
  #6 (permalink)  
Old 11-16-2005, 10:11 AM
Newbie
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Quebec
Posts: 30
moto-chrome is on a distinguished road
Wink Re: Keep getting blisters in flash copper plating...HELP

gtabadboy,

I found a procedure in this forum which worked first time I tried it. It looks like Voltage and amperage are extemely important. I was so happy I immediately called Caswell and bought a controler. You can find the procedure by clicking on SEarch This Forum and enter the keyword dishwashing. You will find a thread called Flash Copper initiated by Fly and a response by SRT Mike. My hat off to Mike who wrote a precise procedure which works. Note: one difference, I zincate, let dry 1 min then dip in warm water 5 sec before putting in the Flash Copper tank to avoid the thick ugly layer of Zinc.
Reply With Quote
  #7 (permalink)  
Old 11-16-2005, 10:56 AM
mcaswell's Avatar
Caswell Inc Founder
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Lyons, NY USA
Posts: 2,367
Blog Entries: 1
mcaswell is a splendid one to beholdmcaswell is a splendid one to beholdmcaswell is a splendid one to beholdmcaswell is a splendid one to beholdmcaswell is a splendid one to beholdmcaswell is a splendid one to beholdmcaswell is a splendid one to beholdmcaswell is a splendid one to behold
Default Re: Keep getting blisters in flash copper plating...HELP

This is the post: flash copper
__________________
--
Mike Caswell
Caswell Inc
http://www.caswellplating.com
Need Support? Visit our online support section at http://support.caswellplating.com
Have A Web Site?
Why not join our affiliate program and earn 15% of all sales. Join at http://www.caswellplating.com/affiliate.htm
Reply With Quote
  #8 (permalink)  
Old 11-17-2005, 08:19 PM
fly fly is offline
Amateur Metal Finisher
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: beaumont misssissippi
Posts: 310
fly will become famous soon enoughfly will become famous soon enough
Default Re: Keep getting blisters in flash copper plating...HELP

The instructions realy work, SRT Mike did a good job on describing the steps. Give it a try and let us know how you did.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Flash Copper Problem gwjohnso Plating Pot Metal 12 02-27-2007 11:41 PM
flash copper on pot metal newview Electroplating Questions 2 11-18-2005 07:14 PM
Differet copper plating questions, plus copy chrome/ nickel? krsimulis Electroplating Questions 1 07-26-2004 12:25 AM
Newbie ? on copychome and flash copper? KevinW Plating Pot Metal 3 11-08-2002 12:49 PM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:06 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.2.0 RC4
Copyright © Caswell Inc.