Electroforming an Iris Seed Pod

How to electroform an organic object (iris seed pod). Commonly referred to as "dipping" in metal, think bronze baby shoes!

Step 1 Equipment and Materials

18-amp Digital Rectifier
1000mL Pyrex Beaker
Lacquer
Conductive Paint
2-Part Epoxy
1 quart Bright Copper Electroforming Solution
Copper Anode
22ga Copper Wire
Paint Brush
Tweezers
Copper Rod/Tubing
Latex Gloves
Baking Soda
Scotch-Brite Pad
Water
Liver of Sulfur
Brass Brush

Comments

[palombo5050]

I have been looking into the electroforming process and saw a need for a device that is smal, efficient, and easy to operate. Check this out. This does not use a whole lot of energy. I saw some of the other devices used in this process and their prices. Let me know if you are interested or know some who might be trying to get started. This custom unit is made for small applications.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Electroform-Multi-use-power-source/

[joefed62]

Excellent instructable!  I was wondering what you do if this extra buildup happens.  You talk about adjusting the voltage, but do you have to sand or file the excess down?

[paqrat]

I remember reading an article on electroforming and they suggested if one area of your piece is forming too quickly you could use some sort of laquer (sp?) or paint over the area that is forming too quickly. After the rest has "caught up" you can remove the paint and continue electroforming.

[art.makes]

Thanks for your instructable, I'm going to try it.

Have you electroformed anything larger ? I'm looking at a 6"x6"x6" plastic bowl I'd like to try out. Do you need to use a glass beaker, will a plastic bucket do?

[kirnex]

This is incredible! I've been doing simple plating with gold, various other metals, but had never considered trying this out. Thanks so much for the instructable--now I know what to do with all the pretty weeds that keep popping up in my garden haha.

[mookiechan]

What brand rectifier is this? and what types/brands of materials do you use and is there a site you can order them from? Thanks!

[mookiechan]

Okay, nm on the acid solutions... I read below. So just the rectifier and the conductive paint. Thanks!!!

[simonad]

Hi Maggie, great instructable, thank you! Saw your shop on etsy, very nice... But your pieces there appear in color - do you paint them after the metal is applied, or is that a different method? For example, your blue rose ring appears kind of transparent, so I am not sure if that the same method.
Thanks!

[OddBot]

Great tutorial Maggie!

I've copper plated before but never considered organic objects. Thanks for adding a new facet to my creativity.

[Mena142]

Great instructable! I might try this some day :)

[Junophor]

Hi MaggieJs
Great Job. Somtimes I need for my objects copper parts but I find them only in other materials like plastic.

I will try to copper them as you showed it.

Thanks to your instructable;-)))

[wd4nka]

Good comment, DallasDecker! It is what perpetuates avocations such as Ham Radio, chemical photography, and just about any art. And younger folks today, the college crowd in particular, are dying to learn how to use their hands to create something useful, besides dragging and dropping and left-clicking. And as has been seen in many industries, when the craft goes away, or what Germans call "das Handwerk", that industry begins to die. There is no digital substitute for das Handwerk. Even technical cultures like Germany celebrate the hand craft arts and industries with "Handwerksfest" events. They even issue stamps to commemorate them!

[Westie2003]

Can anyone please tell me where I can get the battery charger that is controllable with dials to control voltage manually? I live in the UK and want to have a go at electroforming but am struggling with the power supply. Many thanks

[glorybe]

I think electro forming is the wrong terminology. In an electro forming process their is nothing underneath the object at all when completed. It is as if plating is applied until structural thickness is reached and the original object is desolved or removed from the item..

[jengland3]

The terminology is correct. It is my understanding that for commercial jewelry applications the core is only removed for advertisement purposes and a it has a little to do with weight. Basically places like Tiffany can't sell an electro formed gold shell and still call it pure 24 karat gold if the positive form is still inside. They remove the core to make more money.

[mhaws]

This is amazing. I am wondering if the chemicals are safe for pregnant woman to work around.

[rossnzwpi]

Hi, I'm not a chemist but all the chemicals used in this process are not safe. Personally I wouldn't go near it while pregnant or breast feeding.

[NoPegs]

I wouldn't go as far as the phrase "not safe" myself... The actual electro-forming solution itself is just an aqueous copper sulfate solution. It is an "irritant", but unless you're bathing in it or drinking in it the actual hazard is minimal(so close to zero it may as well be.). Heck, you'd have a bigger hazard scrubbing the bathroom from the cleaning products used than this procedure. Toilet bowl cleaner is 20% hydrochloric acid, you know.

[mhaws]

do you know about how many pieces a quart of this stuff would do? Can you reuse the solution after doing one pod? How do you know when the solution is "used up"?

[NoPegs]

If you're doing everything as written, the only "consumable" in the electrolytic portion is the copper plate. Basically copper comes off the plate, and into the solution at an equal rate the copper comes out of the solution and deposits on the workpiece. Maybe top it up with a bit of deionized water on occasion.

[bhappe]

I have instructions on Preserved Electroform Jewelry, It does NOT mention ANYTHING about electroplating. Apparently the organic object is hand painted with a Copper based Paint. next the object is dipped into a solution of specialized metal finish ( a slip). So what is the deal? is electroplating a necessary step or is this very much simplified method plausable?? bhappe

[haldeman]

where can I find these instructions and supplies for this method?

[paqrat]

Electroforming and electroplating are related. Both are electrodeposition of metal. I believe the difference is in the amount of metal and thickness deposited. Electroforming lays down a heavier deposit of metal and can be used to "grow" settings around stones as well as preserving natural objects.

[NaturalCrafter]

You make it easy to understand the process. There have been pieces I have seen at gem shows and always wondered how it was done. I have some very pretty mini cone pods I found still on a stick that would be beautiful for this project. They lay in a dish with other items collected but could not use otherwise as they might break.

[emmy5277]

I was recently at a jewelry expo and came across real leaves that were preserved in pure copper with patination and sealent. The man selling said they used electoforming...this was some of the most beautiful and awesome pieces I have ever seen...can anyone help me with this process? I have scoured the internet and this site was the most informative...but still need more info.

[mslaynie]

My best suggestion is to go to your local library. While you probably won't find the specifics about electroforming leaves, you will probably be able to find pretty good documentation of how to electroform in general. Then it's just a matter of experimentation!

Good luck, and I hope this helps you!

[BabyWhiteElephant]

Wow thank you for all of your tips!!
I can't believe you would give away such valuable information.
I am sure the web world appreciates the "view" into
your studio as shown here in this link

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25112418

[DallasDeckard]

That's kinda what Instructables.com is all about - giving away "valuable information". If everyone guarded their info, this would be a lonely place. When I was building stairs, I was one of the very few people that would train new men, and others that did withheld important information. I never understood that. There was a great tradition around the world of apprenticing that has slowly deteriorated into the dismal state today, where some important, vertical trades are vanishing. There have been some measures to revive some of these crafts - for example in the art of sword making, but they disappear faster than they are rescued.

We all need to be wiling to share or risk some of these techniques disappearing forever. I was willing to train men because I wanted the art of stairbuilding to be alive and thriving, instead of turning into garbage that is slammed in with no craftsmanship (which, unfortunately is the case in too many places). I appreciate the author being willing to share and give a glimpse into her studio. Without this kind of thing, where would places like Instructables.com be?

[TANZMEISTER]

Now a custom ornamental wooden stairmaking instructable, that would be nice!

[efanfengshun]

pretty!

[vorona7001]

But if electroform rubber will the surface be solid or cracks easily?

[skuntze]

This looks like a wonderful project, but where do you find all of those needed items? Digital rectifiers, conductive paints, electroforming solutions and liver of sulphur, some of these sound like scary contraptions! Hehehe! Thanks you for you help.

[static]

"digitsl rectifier" threw me for a while untill I seen it's nothing but s DC power supply with digital read out for voltage and ampres. Then again digital mighr mean micro precessor control The most readily available inexpensive power supplt would be a garage sale battery charger. The their credit http://www.caswellplating.com/kits/rect.htmhas this to say;

Most of our customers manage to plate using a 6 or 12 volt battery, or charger, and bulbs as a current control. The Caswell Plating Manual explains a variety of low cost ways to obtain and control your plating power requirements. You do have to but their $22 plating manual to get their tips, but most likely you will be buying that anyway, if you get seriously into electroplating. Looks to be an istructable that has gotten the creative juices of several flowing, in many, good job.

[richardsan]

yes! i have used the 'reverse' of this process...de-rusting steel of hand planes/tools using a trickle charger.... one can search the process online. there is a sodium silicate/ bi-silicate(?) solution required for the process.

[MaggieJs]

Rio Grande is where I bought all of my supplies, however, you can find them from many other retailers. A few other suppliers of copper conductive paint have also been listed, including
http://www.caswellplating.com/kits/cupwdr.htm

[firehorse]

This is such a beautiful idea and I'd love to try it sometime but I'm curious about about the fumes - from heavy metals and chemicals.  Is this a kitchen project or do you have a studio with a fume hood?

[alexhalford]

The copper solution (blue liquid) is toxic, but only if you drink it. Usual precautions, gloves and goggles, but they're really just to be safe, it's not very nasty stuff. As for fumes, depending on what copper solution you use (CuCl2 obviously being relevant here), you screwing it up may lead to chlorine production. However, the scale will be tiny.
This is most definitely a kitchen project. If you're worried, do it near an open window, but there's no danger here as long as you're not stupid. (Don't drink anything, electricity and solutions etc.. . The usual stuff).

[Morgantao]

I'm wondering, if you only need less than 1 Volt and less than 1 Amp, why do you ned the rectifier to be an 18 Amp?

Cant I just use a standard DC power supply?

[ShadowJesus]

amazing:D

[imrobot]

how much do the Equipment and Materials cost?
i'd like to try it with some star anise