Flash copper V acid copper

[hannemcnc]

Could anyone tell me the difference between the two.

Which one would be used where and under what circumstances?

Is one more robust then the other?

Looking at chrome plating metal and pot metal. Mainly small car components, grills, small bumper sections that sort of thing.

Also nickel plating many small bolts, nuts and smallish cars parts

Cheers

[KCV6]

My advice is to get both.

Flash copper is great but slow to build. It will plate over pretty much anything as it is alkaline. Ideal as a substitute for strike coat. If you are doing pot metal (zinc castings)... get flash copper.

Acid copper will not plate over steel and is too acidic for pot metal. It will destroy pot metal.

What I do. Flash copper on all items requiring copper building or nickel plating. If the underlying material was say steel/brass or already nickel and in good condition (no pits or deep scratches) I leave it in the flash copper for an hour, then wet sand fine grit then another hour of flash copper then polish then finish with top plating coat.

If the item is in poor condition requiring thick copper build up I go to acid copper to build.

Hope this helps

Cheers

Mark

[hannemcnc]

Ok Mark,
Thanks for that info, thats the sort of stuff I need to know.

Will get the Caswell plating book over the weekend as the Aus rep lives a few streets over from me. Small world huh.

Cheers Michael

[KCV6]

Sure is Michael,

The Caswell chrome is hard to get here in Aus due to hazardous freight. Makes it expensive. I'd personally leave the larger chrome bits to a restoration shop, there are heaps around, but definately do the copper/nickel/zinc smaller stuff. I do a lot of restoration on car parts. Everything from brackets and nuts and bolts to pot metal badges and door handles. Chrome plating at a restorers is not that expensive if the part given to them is straight and clean.

Feel free to contact me for any other info.