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plating

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I would love too copper plate a host.
Has anyone ever tried this at home ?
If so is the result useable?
I.E polishable /thick enough
If I am going to send it off somewhere but would love to be able to do it .
 





IIRC copper plating uses cyanide in the process... I wouldn't try to DIY that even if you paid me :p
 
I think once the part is plated, it will be shiny. Keeping it that way is another matter.
 
Electroplating? :thinking:

I'll be watching this thread as I'm interested on this too... :beer:


edit: copper tarnishes uh? That would be a problem...
 
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You need to search the internet for a blue solution called copper VI (six) sulfate. Then you need a 5A constant current supply.

Start there. I'll see if I can find you a good online tutorial.

And yeah. Copper becomes copper oxide over time. It takes a few weeks, but there are several ways to protect it IIRC. Let me do some looking.
 
IIRC copper plating uses cyanide in the process... I wouldn't try to DIY that even if you paid me :p

Gold plating uses cyanide but copper is a sulfate solution so should be safe to do at home, hell even the gold is safe to do at home just don't forget and drink it :whistle:

and 5 amps seems like a little much unless you are plating a large area something like a host would probably require more like a couple amps to do the job.

I used to do selective plating to fill pits in propeller shafts and we used copper nickel and chrome and while I was into that I also did decorative plating with
gold and rhodium, I have a gold plated cribbage board and a chrome plated rail road spike left over from them days, I don't think there are too many of them floating around out there :na:

The first rule is to get it clean, if you don't do that the metals will flake off or not even stick so be sure to get a good electro clean solution !

Good luck...
 
Gold plating uses cyanide but copper is a sulfate solution so should be safe to do at home, hell even the gold is safe to do at home just don't forget and drink it :whistle:

and 5 amps seems like a little much unless you are plating a large area something like a host would probably require more like a couple amps to do the job.

I used to do selective plating to fill pits in propeller shafts and we used copper nickel and chrome and while I was into that I also did decorative plating with
gold and rhodium, I have a gold plated cribbage board and a chrome plated rail road spike left over from them days, I don't think there are too many of them floating around out there :na:

The first rule is to get it clean, if you don't do that the metals will flake off or not even stick so be sure to get a good electro clean solution !

Good luck...
I know u need cyanide to plate steel . but aluminium or brass from what ive seen may be doable without anything too nasty.. id love the look of copper or gold accents . and it cant harm host conductivity.
 
You need to search the internet for a blue solution called copper VI (six) sulfate. Then you need a 5A constant current supply.

Start there. I'll see if I can find you a good online tutorial.

And yeah. Copper becomes copper oxide over time. It takes a few weeks, but there are several ways to protect it IIRC. Let me do some looking.

Thanks just an idea ..
yeah copper oxidises but so does everything else that exists except gold .
I suppose the visible stuff can be lacquered.
got some copper sulphate coming and I hear you can make copper acetate as an electrolyte from peroxide and vinegar and some copper bits.
ive seen diy kits on ebay etc. but cant afford/don't want to invest in any more stuff I don't need to .
 
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