The coating on stainless steel does not hold

If the coating does not adhere to stainless steel, the reason is usually inadequate pre-treatment. Stainless steel forms an invisible oxide layer on contact with air within a few seconds, which protects the metal from chemical reactions but also significantly impairs the adhesion of coatings.

To ensure a long-lasting coating, it is crucial to prepare the workpiece with a Nickel-Strike. This electroplating activator removes the oxide layer and the chromium contained in the stainless steel alloy and forms a thin, adhesive nickel layer as the basis for further coating.

Alternatively, a gold strike (gold flash) can also be used to achieve similar results.