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I've set up my plating tank, but I am not able to plate efficiently.
I bought the 2 gallon kit.
I added the Copy Cad Zinc concentrate to hot distilled water, added the remaining 2 gallons of distilled water, stirred, dissolved, and let cool
Water is 85-90 degrees (using distilled water) and the aquarium heater.
I cut the annonde in 1/2 and place one on each side of bucket after cutting a thin strip to stick out of the water to connected together with gator clips, to the + lead on power back
I flattend a 1/2" copper tube to make a bar across the top of the bucket. I drilled some holes in it and bead blasted it for a clean fresh surface.
I purchased some 18 gauge pure copper wire to make some hangers for the parts I am experimenting with (large bolts, washers, and small brackets). I scuffed the surface with some sand paper to get a good contact with the negative lead.
I added 2 teaspoons of brightener.
First I purified the tank with a zinc strip hanging from the bar connected to the negative lead.
Next, I hung a few parts from copper wire... nothing.
I tried creating a robber in case there was not enough surface area... nothing.
I am using agitation with an an aquarium pump.
My thoughts. I don't think there is sufficient enough contact from the copper hang bar and the copper hangers to the part.
What does work...?
I CAN plate, one part at a time. I wrap the copper hanger around the part and using needlenose pliers until the connection is very tight.
Then I hang it from the bar, but I have to connect the negative lead from the power pack directly to the hanger an inch or so above the water level.
Then I start praying for bubbles. Sometimes I get a good connection and I get plating, other times I do not. Sometimes I have to fiddle with the negative lead until I get bubbles.
There has to be a better way of hanging parts and getting good contact.
What am I doing wrong?
I bought the 2 gallon kit.
I added the Copy Cad Zinc concentrate to hot distilled water, added the remaining 2 gallons of distilled water, stirred, dissolved, and let cool
Water is 85-90 degrees (using distilled water) and the aquarium heater.
I cut the annonde in 1/2 and place one on each side of bucket after cutting a thin strip to stick out of the water to connected together with gator clips, to the + lead on power back
I flattend a 1/2" copper tube to make a bar across the top of the bucket. I drilled some holes in it and bead blasted it for a clean fresh surface.
I purchased some 18 gauge pure copper wire to make some hangers for the parts I am experimenting with (large bolts, washers, and small brackets). I scuffed the surface with some sand paper to get a good contact with the negative lead.
I added 2 teaspoons of brightener.
First I purified the tank with a zinc strip hanging from the bar connected to the negative lead.
Next, I hung a few parts from copper wire... nothing.
I tried creating a robber in case there was not enough surface area... nothing.
I am using agitation with an an aquarium pump.
My thoughts. I don't think there is sufficient enough contact from the copper hang bar and the copper hangers to the part.
What does work...?
I CAN plate, one part at a time. I wrap the copper hanger around the part and using needlenose pliers until the connection is very tight.
Then I hang it from the bar, but I have to connect the negative lead from the power pack directly to the hanger an inch or so above the water level.
Then I start praying for bubbles. Sometimes I get a good connection and I get plating, other times I do not. Sometimes I have to fiddle with the negative lead until I get bubbles.
There has to be a better way of hanging parts and getting good contact.
What am I doing wrong?
bondo
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