Q: My electroless nickel bath is pitting on my cast aluminum parts, how can I fix this?
A: Pitting on aluminum is caused by pores in the substrate or bad bath operation. Die cast aluminum, unlike machined aluminum, is extremely porous. These pores can be enlarged by an aggressive pre-plate process and look like pits when the nickel is applied. Minimizing the pore size in the pre-plate is important to the final aesthetic. However, even a good surface treatment can be ruined by a bad plating bath. Remember these three tips
