Black soot on flash copper

[jimcarry]

Im just guessing your probably using a small kit 1 to 5 gal right? If this is the case the pump sent with the kit is sufficient. The manual says 1 amp per 10 to 15 sq” make sure you are with in this parameter. You should not have to pickle again just degrees and rinse also make sure your anodes
are not closer then 3" form the part

[fly]

You said the part was mild steel, but are you sure, because it sounds like you might have aluminum or pot metal. From the steps that you took the steel should have plated, but it could be one little step that could throw us off. Do the magnet test.
If the part is steel blast the part, polish it to a shine, make sure you have rubber gloves on before you degrees, degrees, water test, solution (flash copper) at 120 temp., make sure you have bubbles, set machine at 2 volts, connect part to neg. wire before you go in solution, put part on bus bar, after 30 sec. go to the proper amps for one min., then check part. Then get back with us and let us know what happened.

[jlmccuan]

I have also used this kit for aluminum. Is it possible the zincate from the aluminum has contaminated the flash copper solution too much. SHould I dummy plate?

[fly]

It would take alot of drag out from the zincate to contaminate the flash, and Yes I would plate a practice piece.