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"Plating Aluminium Wheel"

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2003

I try to gold plate aluminium wheel. Is there somebody can advise me the best plating thickness and specification of plating sort. I plan to plate it with:
1. Degrease
2. Etch
3. Acid dip
4. Double zincate
5. Copper cyanide strike (low free cyanide)
6. Copper cyanide bright plate
7. Bright Acid Copper
8. Bright Nickel plate
9. Brush gold plate

I already plate successful on small piece of cutting Aluminium Wheel, but I don't know what the best thickness spec plating of Copper & Nickel.

Or do you have other sort of treatment that more efficient or stronger, please help me.

Thank you very much,

Anton Bijosono
Pt.Citra Selaras - Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia

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2003

Hi Anton. Suggest you get a copy of the MFSA's "Quality Metal Finishing Guide to Nickel-Chrome Coatings" from www.nasf.org. It's only a few dollars and explains all the relationships between thicknesses and corrosion resistance. You might consider electroless nickel in place of the copper cyanide strike, and I think you definitely need duplex nickel (semi-bright followed by bright). Good luck.

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