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Kelly
635 posts
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in over 10 years
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Copper Plated Station & Projects
Looking for ways to make my fiddling stand out and because the processes have long intrigued me, I started looking into the world of electroplating and electroforming. After looking into it, I decided to build a rolling, dedicated station where I could both do the work safely and store materials.
The station has:
- A 2′×4′ footprint
- Is mobile (heavy duty casters)
- Built in LED lighting
- Variable speed exhaust fan
- Switches to control and aquarium air pump, an aquarium heater, the lighting and the variable control for the fan by way of feeding into the hot side of four double gang outlets on the back side of the control panel.
- Two of the double gang outlets on the back are not switch controlled. One is for the power supply, which has its own switch, and any other item which might need a spot in the future.
- For each switch, I installed and indicator light to warn when the pump, heater or fan were on.
- The panel can hold two power supplies (one on top and one on the bottom). If I added a supply (and I might), the panel has room for “Left” and “Right” bath switches for the additional heater and air pump.
- The power panel feeds into a single, 12 gauge cord and plug. This is more than ample for the power, since the heavy draw is the meager fan and the aquarium heaters.
- I installed four corner posts around the work area and joined them at the top and bottom to allow me to contain any gases emitted and draw them off with the fan.
Currently, the area is just wrapped in plastic, but I may install some of the water proof material used in bath surrounds to replace it, since it’s durable and the bright white will add to how well lite the already well lit work are is lit (whew).
- Under the work area-panel is storage for a couple five gallon containers, extra copper sulfate, battery acid, brightener and what have you, all of which is contained in tubs, in case a container fails.
6 Comments
Looks great very nice design.
woodworking classes, custom furniture maker
Beautiful ornaments , and a nice work station , …cool .
nice work
Wheaties
SIDE NOTE: Copper plating is relatively easy.
All you need is:
(1) Copper sulfate for the bath, and which you can buy at big box stores, where it's sold to control septic root problems, or, to be sure you get pure stuff, it's not overly expensive on the Net.
(2) Sulfuric acid for the bath, and which is sold in hardware stores, to clean the really tough plumbing problems (or to change the look of your stainless steel ;) ).
(3) Distilled water for the bath.
(4) Copper, such as scrap wire, which is some of the nicest copper you can get for the job.
(5) A power supply, which only needs to put out a half (1/2) to three (3) volts and about one (1) amp.
(6) An aquarium heater to warm the bath.
(7) An aquarium pump to stir the bath.
(8) Some alligator clips (I like the really heavy-duty ones, cause the gases and such will beat them up).
(9) Some form of ventilation. I use a 4" in-line fan and the flex dryer vent. It works so well, even around the low speeds, you cannot smell the sulfur used for patina work.
(10) Protective items (safety googles, rubber gloves, respirator when fan isn't working).
(11.0) If you are copper plating wood, bone or other projects that are not conductive, or that otherwise would not play with the acid bath (e.g., iron), you'll need:
(11.1) Pure graphite. A quart, sold on-line, goes a long ways.
(11.2) Modge Podge, which will be mixed with the graphite, to apply a conductive coating to the wood.
(11.3) Lacquer, to seal the wood, so the acid bath doesn't attack it, and over which the conductive coat will be painted.
All you need is:
(1) Copper sulfate for the bath, and which you can buy at big box stores, where it's sold to control septic root problems, or, to be sure you get pure stuff, it's not overly expensive on the Net.
(2) Sulfuric acid for the bath, and which is sold in hardware stores, to clean the really tough plumbing problems (or to change the look of your stainless steel ;) ).
(3) Distilled water for the bath.
(4) Copper, such as scrap wire, which is some of the nicest copper you can get for the job.
(5) A power supply, which only needs to put out a half (1/2) to three (3) volts and about one (1) amp.
(6) An aquarium heater to warm the bath.
(7) An aquarium pump to stir the bath.
(8) Some alligator clips (I like the really heavy-duty ones, cause the gases and such will beat them up).
(9) Some form of ventilation. I use a 4" in-line fan and the flex dryer vent. It works so well, even around the low speeds, you cannot smell the sulfur used for patina work.
(10) Protective items (safety googles, rubber gloves, respirator when fan isn't working).
(11.0) If you are copper plating wood, bone or other projects that are not conductive, or that otherwise would not play with the acid bath (e.g., iron), you'll need:
(11.1) Pure graphite. A quart, sold on-line, goes a long ways.
(11.2) Modge Podge, which will be mixed with the graphite, to apply a conductive coating to the wood.
(11.3) Lacquer, to seal the wood, so the acid bath doesn't attack it, and over which the conductive coat will be painted.
Neat stuff.
Cool!
Ryan/// ~sigh~ I blew up another bowl. Moke told me "I made the inside bigger than the outside".
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