Triple chrome plating, between dips?

[dnice20ecu]

I know you have to polish and buff the metal before dipping, but do you have to do it between the copper, nickel, and then chrome. I guess my question is do you polish/buff it after every dip?


Thanks whoever answers!

[48Buick]

It kind of depends on what you are doing.
If your restoring some parts that are all pitted and the surface is uneven. You will want to copper plate them sand, copper plate, sand until the surface is smooth. Sand up to 400 grit sandpaper. Then start buffing the copper to a mirror finish.
After this you will clean and activate.
Then you can nickel plate it. If the nickel has brightners and levelers in it you will not have to buff after the nickel. Simply rinse the part and go straight into the chrome. If the nickel does not have the brightners and levelers in it then you will have to buff it to a mirror prior to the chrome.
If you do have to buff....go a little longer in the nickel to make sure you have plenty of material to buff to a shine.
Then as usual clean/activate and chrome plate!
48Buick

[dnice20ecu]

Hey Buick,

Thanks for your help. I am new at this, through reading this forum you seem to be an artist at electroplating. I look forward to chatting with you in the future. Now, I just gotta get over the fear of blowing my money and order the stuff to do it! any advice from you before I start?

Thanks again

D-nice

[dnice20ecu]

Hey Buick,

Thanks for your help. I am new at this, through reading this forum you seem to be an artist at electroplating. I look forward to chatting with you in the future. Now, I just gotta get over the fear of blowing my money and order the stuff to do it! any advice from you before I start?

Thanks again

D-nice

[48Buick]

Well, I wouldnt say an artist.. But I do enjoy it.
I guess my biggest advise would be to relize there is a learning curve involved with plating. Please dont think you can just dip the parts and have them come out looking great. Prep is what its all about.
Learn to enjoy learing...your going to be doing a lot of that.
Dont look at flops as failure...look at them as learning experiances.
If you get frustrated....walk away and do something else for a while..
Most of all relize as with any art form...your always going to be getting better!
Good luck and enjoy.
48Buick