Electorforming Help
 

I just started electroforming. I have a Tekpower HY1803D power supply, copper paint from Safer Solutions, and the solution from Rio. I have read lots of stuff on the internet on how to electroform and also purchased a tutorial. Here are a few questions I have:

1. What do you use for anodes? (I've been using copper sheeting)
2. I love the real grainy look of electroforming but mine seems to come out rather smooth and very thin. Do I need to up my settings (I set my amperage at .25)? Use a thicker anode? Paint a heavier layer?

Any help would be appreciated. Here is a picture of something I have already done:

http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL91.../408920448.jpg

Funny because what you have is what most people strive for :lol:

Copper sheeting is good, so is large gauge copper wire. Try uping your current

get a piece of cloth and wet it down with ammonia, then wrap your piece that has been electroformed with the cloth - then stick in a ziplock for a few hours & it will patina the copper to a greenish color

Glue some tiny no hole beads onto the glass, seal with your paint then electroform,,, for a cool pebbly look,,, I will slide them around so they are placed strategically...

copper pipe for plumbing makes fantastic cheapish anodes. Ralph McCaskey here in the Bay Area does tons of plating and that is what he uses and recommends

Dont qoute me here but Im sure ive read to get a grainy look you need more current. When you first start use your .25amps to get a thin layer and then upp the current. Youll have to try different amounts to see what works. Again this is what Ive read while researching the topic. Easy enough to test.

Thanks for all your help. I changed two things: (1) thicker copper anode and (2) upped the voltage. I like this one a LOT -

http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL91.../409039390.jpg
http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL91.../409039389.jpg

Oh, that came out great! Upping the voltage does help. I forgot what they called them, but I got these copper sheets from Home Depot that were about 4" x 6". I bought about 10 of them at the time because they were only $3.00 each. I still have at least 8 of them.
I had to go to the front of the store to get them. When DH gets home later I will ask him if he recalls what they called them.

Very nice results. Did you have to polish to get the nice shine or is that how it came out of the solution?

It comes out a salmon color with a matte finish - I just use a brass brush to shine it up. I haven't started using any patinas yet but copper ages nicely.

Okay, checked with the hubby and all he remembers was that they were copper sheets. They are 5" x 7". I know they called them something more specific. I wish I could remember. Damn it!

Im just about ready to start doing some plating. I just cant seem to pick a power supply. Alot of them have such horrible reviews.

I purchased the Tekpower HY1803D Variable DC Power Supply from Amazon for $70. It was recommended by Kate Fowle in an article found in the March 2013 Soda Lime Times.

What do I do if I am trying to do a larger piece have it turned ALL the way up and am still getting pinky salmon coloring :(

You need to turn up your voltage but I found some great tutorials online -

http://pigeonpointglass.com/electro-tut.html
http://dalmar.net/electroforming.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otTQ8WLifK4

These helped me.

think i mighta found part of my issue...power source started smoking last night 0o.