Wouldn't copper plating oxidize really fast? Why would you plate anything with copper as the outer layer?
What would happen if you just tossed it all into a wood (or maybe another kind of slightly hotter) fire? Isn't that what they used to do?
It would have to be 1984F or some 1000 degrees Celsius.
You could make a ton of money at a metal reclamation center.
I'm not sure. Thats why i'm looking for opinions. I figure the lump of copper will tarnish no matter what method I use to make it, but maybe I could polish and clear coat it or somthing.
I think its feasable to melt copper in a wood fire, as early man did it. But I haven't tried it yet.
Yeah, I could scrap it, but wheres the adventure in that?
I think its feasable to melt copper in a wood fire, as early man did it. But I haven't tried it yet.
Yeah, I could scrap it, but wheres the adventure in that?
I would think if you check the web you will find info on building a home foundry for brass, bronze, and alu. A good place to start.
I have seen alot on the web for casting other metals, but I am under the impression copper is very difficult to cast. Here is the artical I couldn't find earlier - Copper and Copper Alloys Casting Problems It describes using crushed graphite to cover the melt and adding calcium boride or lithium. I don't really want to create an alloy. I don't know if thats what this would do, or if all the other stuff will end up as slag on top of the melt.
I guess I need to find a metallurgy forum. I've been looking but can't find one yet.
Glyph, thanks for the awsome reply!!
I'm not too concerned about the shape of my copper "lump" when its done. I want it to be interesting to look at. Not a perfect cube or anything.
How do I figure out the right sulfuric acid and copper sulfate mixture? Trial and error? Is this mixed with water? Will the acid mixture last a while, or does it depleate and have to be changed though the process?
Do you have any suggestions on what a hobbiest like me could use for a power supply? I was thinking of an automotive battery charger, but that wouldn't allow me to control the current very much.
How is the filtration done? Is it sorta like a pool filter that is just circulating the solution though a filter?
What time frame am I looking at to take a couple pounds of scrap wire and make a couple pound lump? A week? a mouth? Way longer?
Sorry to bombard you with questions. I'm just glad to see somone here knows about this!
Around these forums you will find designs for constant current power supplies, i suggest you start there.
Personally I built my own switch-mode constant current power supply.
Personally, I adapted a plastic aquarium pump to do my filtering continously.
Therefore most platers place their anodes in a special porous bag that traps the particles but still lets ions flow through. A good bag will greatly reduce filtering issues.
Remember, safety first, if you have little ones running around or moronic siblings keep this setup out of their reach. You will make a mess of the area you do it in and this unique combination of acids and metal salts will damage things you thought couldn't be damaged (i found that out the hard way).
Did you go off a design you found here or somplace online or did you start from scratch?
The link to the plating kit you gave me says 0.07 - 0.2 amps per square inch of part surface area. I would think 5 amps or so would be big enough for me to start off with. Maybe all I would ever need?
So I take it the acid and copper sulfate don't harm most plastic? Or did you have to search for one that would stand up to it? I see Caswell has a filter kit for 22 dollars. Maybe this would be the easiest route. **broken link removed**
I tried looking for these on the Caswell site. Are they refered to as bandages?
Nope no pets or kids around to get into it.Wasn't even planning on doing it at home. I have a small tool repair shop and thought it would make a good spare time project. Does it create clouds of corrosive fumes like muratic acid does though? I don't want to rust everything.
Thanks again for your very informative replys. I don't feel so in the dark now on how this all works.
I think I will try to just start simple with no additives and go from there.
I will work on getting the basic supplys and a power supply and then I am sure I will be back with more questions.
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