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Smoky residue on nickel after activating Smoky residue on nickel after activating
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Old 12-20-2006, 03:01 PM
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Default Smoky residue on nickel after activating
I can polish it off with no problem, but what causes this?

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Old 12-20-2006, 09:38 PM
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Default Re: Smoky residue on nickel after activating
It's the reaction between the acid in the activator and the nickel. It's perfectly normal. BTW - if you're stripping chrome plate off, then immediately gold plating the nickel, there's no need to activate.
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Old 12-21-2006, 01:12 AM
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Default Re: Smoky residue on nickel after activating
Quote:
Originally Posted by lcaswell
It's the reaction between the acid in the activator and the nickel. It's perfectly normal. BTW - if you're stripping chrome plate off, then immediately gold plating the nickel, there's no need to activate.
Now that I've never heard and it doesn't always happen but when it does its a pain because it takes extra time to plate.

I've also heard activating isn't necessary but isn't it when using cyanide gold?
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Old 12-21-2006, 05:05 PM
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Default Re: Smoky residue on nickel after activating
We don't sell cyanide gold any more, but when we did, customers never activated, and it worked fine.

Personally, I think this activation step is more a way for certain companies to get people to buy more chemicals than they really need, and all it is is automotive battery acid and water.
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Old 12-23-2006, 01:27 AM
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Default Re: Smoky residue on nickel after activating
Quote:
Originally Posted by lcaswell
We don't sell cyanide gold any more, but when we did, customers never activated, and it worked fine.

Personally, I think this activation step is more a way for certain companies to get people to buy more chemicals than they really need, and all it is is automotive battery acid and water.
Amazing. Why didn't you guys find me 5 years ago
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Old 04-29-2007, 02:52 PM
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Default Re: Smoky residue on nickel after activating
I had an issue the other day with a grill on a Chrysler Sebring. I noticed that the gold was wearing off portions of it. When I rubbed with a clean cloth it came off with no problems. I checked the emblems on the back of the car and this was not an issue. But when I went to polish the old gold off and regold the finish of the piece seemed dull and had tiny spots. Is this whats referred to as pitting? What could have caused this? Because the gold didn't have the shiny appearance it should when I reapplied.
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Old 04-29-2007, 02:53 PM
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Default Re: Smoky residue on nickel after activating
This was a vehicle I had brush plated about a month or so ago.
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