jamesp
Cave Dweller 
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,601
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Post by jamesp on Jan 21, 2014 19:01:13 GMT -5
electroplating is done using a regulated power supply. I have one that allows adjustment for both amps and volts. The solution is saturated coppper sulfate ($4 a pound at Lowe's sold as 'rootkiller') with a measure of sulfuric acid (sold at Home depot $10 qt for clearing drains) added for the ions. An excess of copper is used on one electrode and the other is the object to be plated. Turn on the air bubbles, then power it up. lather rinse, repeat until you have your parameters set. I googled for "conductive paint". The other way to to glue powdered copper, let glue dry and plate. That is how they do babies shoes. Gold plate same thing, different solutions (Rio!), different power and expensive anode. Now Scott. I just read a brief on how to do this. It is far simpler of a system than i had thought. I thought it involved high vacuum and/or plasma generation. Actually it is basically acid and the right amperage and conductive paint. I have electrical friends that could hold my hand thru the process of building the unit. I like the effect of that process a lot. What is your opinion of it's end product when applied to semi precious stones? I buy copper sulfate in 50 pound bags. Sulfuric is cheap. I have aerators. Looks like i am partially there. I was thinking it would look cool on the coral. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2014 19:32:24 GMT -5
I like the look.  |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,601
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Post by jamesp on Jan 21, 2014 19:53:39 GMT -5
I like the look. So you have already been toying seriously with this. I really like the effects of this process. I want to use it on the coral blastoids and thin tumbles for jewels. But i want it to be precise. i am pumped about this. |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,601
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Post by jamesp on Jan 21, 2014 20:16:02 GMT -5
I like this  And this for tumbles  Holy cow  Etsy has them. Prices sure have dropped. |
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Post by pghram on Jan 21, 2014 23:00:59 GMT -5
There was a member here who did this & offered services, I think his name was Vance, I don't remember his handle.
Rich
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The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
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Post by The Dad_Ohs on Jan 21, 2014 23:15:42 GMT -5
What kind of critters are in this death plate???
Really, Really Tiny Ones !!!!! LOL
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Post by 1dave on Jan 21, 2014 23:17:34 GMT -5
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,601
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Post by jamesp on Jan 22, 2014 9:13:15 GMT -5
Was looking for a 20X-40X Dave. Preferably a binocular like they use in the medical field. I can not afford one new. Maybe a Russian one, they make great ones. Not looking for a microscope, but a stereoscope. Look on ebay. Used scopes costing 1000-2000 for $100-$200. Ebay has 700 stereoscopes. Anyone can afford one. Many are vintage like you Dave and are the best in the bucket. The lighting is dead important. I think the light always comes from the lens direction making killer photos. I think microscopes have the light coming from below rendering them useless for rocks. So, screw the light box/light source. You have a tuned light source built into the scope. And 10x may take cab photos extraordinaire. Here is a nice 10x-80x binoc for $100. Buy expensive(used) optics and stick a USB camera. Camera is cheap because it is basic. The focus is on the scope. The characteristics of our rocks are best viewed at 20X to 40X. 10X to 80X is fine. You can see a gnats @ss at 40X Stereoscopes have a lot of space to put a rock in. They are tall and rangy. Look at this one www.ebay.com/itm/Swift-Instruments-Stereo-80-Eighty-Biology-Research-Binocular-Microscope-NICE-/161195076145?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2587f9aa31 |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2014 16:06:31 GMT -5
jamesp I have done the electroplating all the way to, but not including success! I have a new power supply and need to go at it again.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,601
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Post by jamesp on Jan 22, 2014 16:12:24 GMT -5
Practice. It seems like a learning process. Knowing the amps and chemicals-a process.
I noticed you have to have the recipe right for different size pieces. Like cooking.
Bet you will get it dialed in.
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Post by 1dave on Jan 22, 2014 20:56:26 GMT -5
Practice. It seems like a learning process. Knowing the amps and chemicals-a process. I noticed you have to have the recipe right for different size pieces. Like cooking. Bet you will get it dialed in. |
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