Nickel Plate Remains Sticky

[RobertsMGB]

Brand new to plating and tried it for the first time today using the electroless nickel plate kit. I'm impressed that it worked! Though it's easy to see now how important surface preparation is. Even small scratches are readily visible.

I'm plating the back piece of an antique alarm clock - Westclox Big Ben. The plating has a somewhat sticky feel to it. Is there a residue that needs to be cleaned off and how does one do that? This piece was originally copper over steel and I did not do the copper plating before the nickel bath. Did I mess up here?

[KCV6]

I'm not sure why it would feel sticky.

I would probably hand polish it and either re-plate with nickel, or do copper and then nickel again. Not sure which kits you have.

If you intend doing a lot of pieces in copper I can definately recomend the flash copper. For the home plater you can't go past it, I get great results from it with ease. Flash copper also makes a great base for polishing prior to final plating with nickel. Down side is you will need a power supply for the copper.

cheers Mark.

PS... the MGB.... means you are an MGB enthusiast?

[RobertsMGB]

Thanks for the input. I'm using the Electroless Nickel Kit. The sticky feeling seems to have improved over time though still there. I haven't tried doing anything else to it. I also have a piece that appears to be brass and it sound like that definitely needs the flash copper before the nickel. Correct?

You're correct, I am an MG enthusiast. Recently completed restoration of a 1963 MGB that had been off the road for 23 years!