Strike Copper or Acid Copper over Nickel?

[mdarr]

I want to plate steel which have a small pits. I want to first strike copper, rinse, acid copper, rinse, then sand and buff. If I don't break through the copper during the sanding and buffing, can I go straight into nickel plate or do I need to give it another strike copper plate first? In other words, can I go from acid copper straight into nickel without strike copper first?

[mcaswell]

Flash Copper plate the steel, then nickel plate.

If you have acid copper, not Flash Copper, you need to nickel plate first, then copper plate, then nickel again.

[mdarr]

Thanks for the replies!