As we are talking backyard stuff here and it is not mainstream chemistry it makes it difficult to recommend a cure for the problems encountered, the bubbling on surfaces is by and large hydrogen and to reduce this you need a small amount of hydrochloric acid added to the solution, without this you can finish up with hydrogen embrittlement and the whole lot of plate can just crack off the work piece, the purity of solutions is also very important, nickel plate direct to steel is the correct way to do your bolts, copper first will give you a soft sub-stratta and damage easy, and as most copper is acid based it does not take directly to steels, you would need an alkaline copper strike for this, there is not much point in recommending so called secret additives as in the UK you have to be licensed to carry or buy them which then means you have to use within regs and dispose of to a licensed waste carrier, consent to discharge rinse waters is also needed it's a minefield here, if i want shiny these days i buy new or get others to do it for me.
Hi Kevski,
Can you recommend anybody for plating? I’m interested in bright nickel and yellow zinc nickel
Last edited: