Preparing for zincate dip

[Rudisill]

I just bought an electroless nickel plating kit a few days ago (it's due to arrive today) as well as some zincate pre plate dip so I can plate aluminum. The dicrections say that I have to bead blast the part to remove "heavy oxides" before treating it with zincate. I do not own a bead blaster, though I am willing to buy one. But before I do, is it absolutely necessary? I've already got some aluminum deoxidizer that I bought a while ago for anodizing. Would that not do the same thing? And I'm going to be nickel plating paintball parts. I've been told before that bead blasting the insides of gun bodies will throw off tolerances. Is there any truth to that?