PLATING POT METAL...............

[goldmankc]

AAAAHHHHHH!!!!!
now that I got that out of the way, can somone tell me, after my repairs, I have these tiny holes, over and over, cannot get them out, I'm talking pinholes. will flash copper and then acid copper buildup cover these?
I'm at my wits end, have used solder-it, muggyweld, silver solder, still have the pin holes. blasting, sanding, buffing, cannot get rid of them. have started this piece over about 50 times{no s..t} arrgggg, rotten pot metal.
Thanks
Clint

[SLOSteve]

Originally Posted by 48Buick

Bryan:
The biggest thing with potmetal is to just stick with it until you learn how to deal with it. Its the hardest metal to plate.
Practice a lot on scrap.
Good luck and let me know if you need any advise.
48 Buick

Sticking with it is the key! I'm living (still) proof of it. When you mentioned pulling your hair out before plating pot metal you were right. UGH. What a pain but it is fun learning as long as I take a day or two break when I get frustrated.

I've been working on a pot metal radio bezel for quite sometime. Being the really smart guy that I am I didn't start out with the copper pipe practice pieces and went straight to the pot metal (if I'm going to plate pot metal I might as well USE pot metal to practice on, right?). Anyway, to make a long story short I screwed it up so now it IS my practice piece!

I have a couple of quick questions: First, does the part need to be polished to a mirror shine before each plating process, and second: activated in 33% sulphuric acid solution just before the next plate? I think I goofed when I mixed pool acid at a ratio of 1pt to 1gal of distilled water. It should be stronger than that, yes?

Btw.......add me to the list of people you have helped a LOT with your pot metal plating experience and procedures!