Aluminum is another finicky type of metal. It takes special handling to plate successfully. The reason for this is that as soon as you clean the aluminum surface it starts to oxidize and corrode. You may not see it but it is happening. If you try to plate over this layer of grunt your plate will either turn black or not stick. To over come this aluminum must be plated with a zinc bath to stop the part from corroding. This process is called Zincating. If you strip the first zinc layer off with nitric acid, and then zinc plate it again you are double zincating and preparing the metal quite well for plating. When the part is immersed into the nickel bath the zinc is eaten off and replaced with nickel plate. You can then either chrome plate or build up with copper.

The part that I am using is a hubcap from a F-16. (the commanders jet has to be pretty you know!)

The part!	After stripping and sanding.	Buffed and sanded to prepare the base metal for a shiny finish.	Cleaning, scrubbing and rinsing.	Into the zinc bath for no more than 30 sec. Then wash the part off.
			NOTE....If your part is smooth enough to satisfy you then you can go straight into the nickel tank and then chrome.....
Into the Nitric acid bath to strip the zinc. It is almost instantaneous when it removes the zinc. Rinse well.	Back into the zinc bath for the last coat.	Scrub and rinse well.	otherwise you will have to plate nickel copper,nickel and chrome.	Into the nickel bath for about 10 minutes. Scrub,clean and rinse.
Next comes copper to fill any pits or scratches. Up to 1 hour in this bath.	Buff the copper to a high shine. Scrub,clean and rinse.	Into the nickel tank for the final nickel. I usually go about a half hour for a thick plate here.	Buff the nickel to a bright finish. What you have here is what your chrome will pretty much look like.	Chrome plate.