[wescornelius]

So Im very new to electroplating. recently when refurbishing an old rifle, I decided I wanted to do a nickel plating with a copper underplating.

From what I have read its easier to do this in reverse a with nickel underneath copper.
 


(using stainless steel as sacrificial  anode is a no no. dont want to create hexavalent chromium.)

1. Can Chrome molybdenum yield hevavalent chromium?

2. When using what I assume is Chrome molybdenum as a cathode in a copper sulfate and hydrochloric acid solution, I could not get the copper to create a strong adhesion (extremely easy to rub off)

(in one attempt in a water copper sulfate solution, it created micro pitting on the steel, however there was still a thin layer of copper that didn't adhere.

this left me confused, micro pitting led me to believe my cathode was oxidized. however, why was there a thin layer of copper?

what am I doing wrong?

[chenbeier]

The main thing in electroplating is cleaning of the samples. Before any metal is deposited it needs special alcaline and sometimes also acidic cleaning.
I suggest give it to a proffesionel Shop and you get a good result.