Electroplating RECTIFIER

[Shiny]

So, I am trying out electroplating. I wanted to make sure I am not doing anything stupid before actually ordering all of the parts I have decided on.

Other posts on electroplating were very helpful in "techniques and tips", but my goal here is for someone who knows that they are talking about to tell me whether or not my prospective set up will work for pendants.

My main question is whether or not a 0-30 volt, 0-3 amp rectifier is going to cut it. What I understand so far is that amps should be set around .1-.2 amps/square inch of surface. Judging by that, a 3 amp model should be sufficient for up to 15 square inches of plated surface. Why does everyone suggest a 25 amp model? Is 3 or 5 amps enough for pendants?

Alot of people are talking about starting at .1 or .2 amps, going up to .4 or even .7, then back down again to get a grainy effect. Does this mean they are only working one square inch of surface, or that they only use that many amps total,no matter the amount of surface? Should I multiply .1 or .2 by the area to be coated on my pentant? Or just leave it at .2 no matter the size of the space to be worked?

Volts should be set at less than 1 right? Should the volts stay that way the whole time?

Does store bought copper sulphate actually work, like septic tank stuff or stall cleaning goo? Do you need to amend it in any way before it works? Someone said some additives could help but would add alot to the poison factor.


Here is what I am planning on ordering to electroplate regular sized pendants with copper:

CONDUCTIVE COPPER PAINT -8 Oz- 28$ -Sam Tech Electroplating supp.
COPPER PLATING SOLUTION - 1 Quart- 22$ - Sam Tech also
ANODES - Should I order them or just find them somewhere? How do I assure their purity? Is purity that important?
RECTIFIER - 30 VDC, 5 A variable - 130$- circuitspecialists.com under power supplies, bench top power supplies. Digital controls down to 2 decimals. Will this model reliably reach .4 volts and .1 amp?
GLASSBLOWING SKILLS -still searching-

Should I hang my painted piece and anode from copper wires across the top of the glass beaker and clip the wires to them?

Does the wire you hang the piece with need to connect to the paint, and does it then become stuck/ plated on? Do you have to cut it off later?

I thought anodes were negative and cathodes were positive, but everybody keeps saying to hook the negative wire to the piece and the positive wire to the anode....? Why

Big question = is 5 amps enough for pendant work?

[puddletown]

5 amps is PLENTY for pendant work. kinda in a rush, ill be back later for more info

[puddletown]

a 0-30 volt, 0-3 amp rectifier will definitely to cut it for pendant work.

Why does everyone suggest a 25 amp model? my guess is sustainability. The higher the amp. model the longer it can hold a continuous circuit no problem.

Volts should be set at less than 1 right? yes Should the volts stay that way the whole time? yes

Should I hang my painted piece and anode from copper wires across the top of the glass beaker and clip the wires to them? yes

Does the wire you hang the piece with need to connect to the paint? yes
and does it then become stuck/ plated on? yes, sometimes it is a superficial connection and can be broken easily but you don't want the break to look bad on your piece
Do you have to cut it off later? yes

I thought anodes were negative and cathodes were positive, but everybody keeps saying to hook the negative wire to the piece and the positive wire to the anode....? Why I don't remember exactly but I'll check out the set up and get back to you

Big question = is 5 amps enough for pendant work? yes

I learned about electroforming in school and use it to make jewerly. I dont know the specifics of some of your other questions but look everything up and be careful. Electroforming is pretty awesome stuff. Be careful, don't touch the chemicals, don't breath the fumes and have fun!

[Goldsmithy]

Are you talking about electroplating or electroforming. They are two different processes. Electroplating does not require as "clean" of a current as electroforming does. A 25 amp rectifier for plating will not get the job done as well as a 30 amp filtered rectifier. You can get an adapter to filter the current when using a plating rectifier.

If you are talking about electroplating, try a jewelry supply house such as Rio Grande for equipment. I believe they may have the best prices, but I haven't investigated.

Hope this helps....Smithy

[Shiny]

Golly gumdrops Puddle, that was rather helpful. If I could only figure out how to give rep...

[Robert Mickelsen]

I have an 18 gallon tank because I electoplate on larger work than you do, but the principals are the same. I make my own "juice" using a recipe I got from a book by Martha Croasdale. I use a cheap rectifier I got from Rio Grande. People tell me I have to take great care to keep my solution clean and free of sludge and organic pollutants but I swear there are bugs floating around in mine and it works just fine. I add a little brightener about every third time I use my tank.

[jr23]

I have a Rectifier from a industrial supply place it looks as if it has lots of guages and dials and has a range from fractions of amps and volts and then other gauges that go in whole numbers not decimal.

I will post a pic when unit gets here I found this unit at HGR surplus and it was as cheap as the cheap rio grand one I priced.

I was Hoping to score a recipe for the solution and will google the info you have given Ram Thanks.


Also as not to confuse the processes it is the same procedure just different names. When plating a object its called electroplating and eltroforming is when you use the process to build a object.

Hope you can wrap around that one

[Robert Mickelsen]

I was Hoping to score a recipe for the solution and will google the info you have given Ram Thanks.

Email me and I will send you a copy of my electroforming essay with resource list. There is a recipe for the solution included in that information.

RAM

[jr23]

You bet I goggled her name and I came up with a paper on it only available thew a university.

Then found a plating forum and the same guy try's to sway all beginners to buy kits and books from his company.

Thanks a bunch I was up late searching and had just a few interesting hits.