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  for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Post strike nickel is blue

We are a manufacturing facility with a large nickel chrome plating operation. Our problem is this. After carbon treating our nickel baths, our post strike nickel is plating as a foggy blue. Our PH is at 3.2, Our brightener levels have been raised to above normal levels. We have lowered the plating amperage from our usual 1000 amps to about 400 amps to plate good parts. The other issue is that we also plate long cycle, automotive quality parts. These will have to be plated within the week to meet customer requirements. How can we resolve this problem? Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Kevin Cremeans
- Lima, Ohio

After carbon treating, analyze the bath for every thing. Make sure your brightener and leveler are where they need to be, and check Boric conc. If your Boric is low, you may develop high pH at the cathode film, causing discoloration.

Steve Delaney
- Ontario