Electroplating on a budget - anyone have any tips?

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cheesehead

Lifer
Aug 11, 2000
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I'd like to set up a basic electroplating/electroforming setup for nickel and copper, preferably without the enormous cost associated with most kits. As such, I figure I'd do most of the work myself. Here are my plans for the main elements of a home electroplating setup:

1. Power supply
This is the easy part - all you need is a big power transformer, a bridge rectifier, a variable current regulator, and an ammeter. I've found some decent looking current-regulators-on-chips, but they're all quite pricey - if anyone could recommend a good current regulator design, I'd appreciate it. (Low noise is not a requirement.)

2. Plating bath
This is not so easy. I'm told that a combination of copper sulfate and sulfuric acid works pretty well for electroplating copper, but I'm not sure if the same will apply for nickel sulfate and sulfuric acid. Most electroforming kits also include brighteners of various types to prevent the buildup of crud; if any one can suggest what I should be using for this, I'd appreciate it.

3. Conductive paint
The obvious solution is to go buy some, but at $30/bottle it's a bit pricey. The alternative are much cheaper graphite-based conductive paints. I'm not sure if the latter would work - anyone have any thoughts?
 
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wwswimming

Banned
Jan 21, 2006
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cheesehead said:
2. Plating bath
This is not so easy. I'm told that a combination of copper sulfate and sulfuric acid works pretty well for electroplating copper, but I'm not sure if the same will apply for nickel sulfate and sulfuric acid. Most electroforming kits also include brighteners of various types to prevent the buildup of crud; if any one can suggest what I should be using for this, I'd appreciate it.

3. Conductive paint
The obvious solution is to go buy some, but at $30/bottle it's a bit pricey. The alternative are much cheaper graphite-based conductive paints. I'm not sure if the latter would work - anyone have any thoughts?
Click to expand...

if you're using conductive paint - is this for controlling EMI on a plastic electronic housing ?

as far as the plating set-up, make sure you allocate $$ for the safety glasses, something to cover your face (e.g. welding mask for torch work, cuts out about as much light as a pair of sunglasses - that's different than an arc-welding mask, which cuts out about 99% of the light), gloves, expendable clothes, and a plan in case you need to flush your skin (jump in the pool, jump in the bathtub, run in the shower, etc.)

then you need a place where the fumes are dealt with. e.g. outdoors with a breeze.
 
Modelworks

Modelworks

Lifer
Feb 22, 2007
16,240
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I did my first electroplating when I was about 13. I had a book that described how it was done and one of my sisters friends was a mechanic and had a bunch of old car batteries laying around. I took acid from one battery and used the voltage of another to plate dimes with copper from pennies. I really didn't understand the dangers then, but was fun showing around the dimes at school , everyone kept telling me they were fake, not really dimes.

you already know the basics.

For the power supply - Auto parts stores, car battery chargers are cheap, slightly regulated and high current, perfect for electroplating. I would look for the manual versions not the ones designed to automatically charge as that could interfere with your using it for electroplating.

Copper sulfate is one option , another is just plain copper metal. Copper water pipe works fine as the metal source if all you are doing is small amounts. It takes longer but it works just as good.

And as suggested wear gloves and eye protection. Also consider buying a small bag of lime. It neutralizes acid spills quickly and cheaply.
 
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