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Bright acid copper

We normally plate mechanically polished and buffed steel parts with bright nickel. My question is, if using multilayer system e.g. bright nickel/bright acid copper/ bright nickel can replace expensive hand made polishing and buffing, and if so, what thickness of the layer is necessary (the end product must be mirror bright). I know, that mentioned triple-layer system was quite popular in the past, and would like to know, what are the reasons to use it today. Is anybody using this system?

Frantisek Haas
Preciosa - JABLONEC N. N., Czech Republic, EUROPE
2002

I don't think nickel-copper-nickel was ever popular in the USA. In the old days it was copper-nickel so that the copper could be buffed. That process is still used for rework of old parts so copper can be mush buffed into any pits, and is used on new aluminum parts and zinc parts. But the usual process for new work on steel these days is self-levelling nickel. Automobile and truck bumpers have been done this way for decades.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2002

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