Electroforming an Iris Seed Pod

Step 13 Electroforming

Let the copper tubing rest on the beaker. Make sure there is plenty of space between the anode and the seed pod, they should never touch. You also want to avoid allowing the seed pod to rest against the glass. Check the amp and voltage setting, they should both be at or below 1. You want a very slow and steady build-up of copper to form, otherwise it can flake off.

Comments

[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!

[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!