its called Electroforming!

Electroforming is a metal forming process that forms parts through electrodeposition or electroplating

Everything You Need to Know to Get Started is in this instructable/ video

Please watch

Electroforming seems a lot more difficult than it actually is.

you can get started for around $100 and make some really stunning pieces

Step 1: Shopping List

home depot

-root kill -5 ft of copper pipe -10ft of 12awg wire -acetone

hobby lobby or craft store of your choice

-3 small glasses containers -indiaink -mod podge -paint brushes

walmart -

miralax -better homes and gardens 4.5 cup container

Dollar store -

mixing container -mixing spoon -measuring cup -superglue -baking soda -flavor syringe

auto parts store -

battery acid

amazon

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...

https://www.amazon.com/Fasco-Epoxies-...

Step 2: Mixing

Firstly I recommend that you always wear gloves and eye protection when mixing
always better safe than sorry

16 oz of rootkill

2 quarts of very hot water

Once the water is hot enough to dissolve the crystals pour in the root kill and stir outside or in a really well ventilated area with a respirator on

I recommend while you're at the dollar store to pick up a plastic stirring utensil like a spoon and this should go without saying, throw it away after use you don't want to accidentally ingest some copper and sulfuric acid,

Once it stirred let it cool down

I use a flavor syringe instead of pouring out is sulfuric acid into a measuring cup because it's less likely to spill and you get a really accurate measurement

Measure out 16 ml and inject it into the solution and stir thoroughly

Once everything thoroughly stirred you can add the brightener

measure 1/2 teaspoon of miralax and mix to the solution

Optional

label your solution so no accidents happen

Step 3: Tank Setup

It's a lot easier to set up a tank dry if you pour the solution and chances are you're going to have to adjust something and then it's going to be more messy

4 equal length of copper pipe and connected them with 12 AWG wire

I got a pair of pliers and twisted the wire to where the pipes could not slide through and I was able to pick both of them up by the wire in between

Do this one more time and your anodes are done

To connect the two anodes from one spot I soldered on to alligator clips on one piece of the 12 AWG wire and once you clamp the two wires on both of the anodes you have electricity going to one large anode

For the cathode it's pretty easy just get one bar or small copper pipe a quarter inch at the thickest and flatten the edge and have it run across the middle of the tank you're going to have to make hooks to dangle what your electro forming into the bath and a smaller diameter will save you I'm having to use a lot of extra copper wire

Fill it up and the tanks done

..........................Important....................................

make sure to take out your anodes if you are done electroforming
if you dont it will leach more copper into the solution and throw off the ratio!

if that does happen take out all of the anodes except one and plate something overnight to starve your solution and get it back to the right ratio

Step 4: Conductive Paint and Making the Base

Adhesion

so if you use baking soda and superglue it makes a rock solid bond that is perfect for this application.

put one small drop of super glue where you want to bond your piece then sprinkle baking soda on it and it will solidify instantly.

this is perfect for adding necklace loops and decorative pieces of rock or wire

Conductive paint

if you want just pure graphite mix with acetone and the acetone will evaporate when appealed
if you are trying to seal and object mixing graphite into PvA glue or mod podge will make a pretty durable sealing conductive paint
If you want high detail that is really durable mix India ink with graphite

if you want a more smooth finish operated the lower voltage for longer if you want a plate really fast with a lot of organic movement have the voltage a little higher

Step 5: Power Supply

hook up the red lead to the anode and the black lead to the cathode

make hooks like this to dangle the thing you want to electroform

to start out set voltage in between 1 and 2 volts

make sure that the piece isn't touching the bottom of the container or it will short out

..........................Important....................................
make sure to take out your anodes if you are done electroforming if you dont it will leach more copper into the solution and throw off the ratio! if that does happen take out all of the anodes except one and plate something overnight to starve your solution and get it back to the right ratio