Repairs Design Furniture

Galvanic coating tungsten copper at home. Mednation of parts at home in two ways is a step-by-step instruction with video. Metal slowness with immersion in electrolyte

The galvanic is both the section of the applied science "electrochemistry", in which the processes occurring during the deposition of metal cations on the cathode placed in an electrolytic solution and the technological process. The electroplating at home or manufactured in production allows the thin layer of metal to be applied to the surface of the processed product, which can act as a protective or decorative coating.

Methods for implementing such a technological process that is quite high difficulty is already well worked out, so today it is actively used not only manufacturing enterprises, but many homemade masters.

Features of the process

The coating formed on the parts being processed with the help of electroplating can be applied for technological purposes or perform decorative, protective or immediately both functions. In decorative purposes, they create a thin layer of gold or silver, and in order to ensure reliable protection of the surface of the processed part of corrosion, dipping or galvanic is performed.

Make electroplating even at home easy. Perform such a procedure as follows.

  • In the dielectric container with electrolyte, two anode are lowered, connected to the plus contact of the electrical current source. The material of manufacturing such anodes should be metal, the layer of which must be formed.
  • The processed product itself connected to the minus contact of the source of the electric current and, thus, acting as a cathode, is placed in the electrolyte between the anodes.
  • Galvanization, that is, the process of transferring metal molecules from an electrolyte on a cathode product, begins to occur at the moment when the resulting electrical network is closed.
As a result, a thin and homogeneous layer of metal is formed on the processed surface, which was originally kept in the chemical composition of the electrolyte.

Necessary equipment

Habernika can be qualitatively done using even the most famous equipment that has many masters in the arsenal. First of all, it is necessary to select a DC source that must be equipped with an output voltage regulator. The presence of such a regulator is necessary in order to be able to smoothly and widely change the power of your self-made electroplating device.

As a power source at home, it is very convenient to use an electric current rectifier that can be assembled independently (or purchase a serial model). Many craftsmen performing galvanic coating at home, serial welding machines are used as a source of current.

Electroplating bath with their own hands can also be made without any problems. As such a bath, you can use any capacity of glass or plastic, while it is necessary to take into account that in such a container for electroplating should be placed both the parts being processed and the required amount of electrolyte. It is also very important that the bath is strong enough and could withstand a high temperature, the value of which can reach up to 80 °.

Anodes used to carry out electroplating at home, perform several important functions at once:

  • used into the electrolyte electric current and ensure the uniform distribution of the latter along the surface being processed;
  • reimbursement of a decrease of metal applied from the chemical composition of the electrolyte;
  • contribute to the flow of some oxidative processes.
Choosing the anodes for its galvanic apparatus, one important rule should be observed: their area should be greater than the area of \u200b\u200bthe surface being processed.

Electroplating at home cannot be carried out without the use of a heating device, with which the electrolyte is communicated to the required operating temperature. It is very convenient when the heating intensity provided by such a device can be adjusted. If you focus on the experience of homemade craftsmen, who already have the experience of applying electroplating coatings at home, one can recommend a small electrocomputer or a regular iron with an adjustable heating degree of the sole as a heating device.

What will be needed for the preparation of electrolyte

To safely store chemical reagents at home, from which the electrolyte for electroplating will be prepared, as well as the fine solution itself, you will need glassware with fitted lids. The number of chemical reagents from which the electrolytic solution is prepared must be measured with an accuracy of one gram. To solve such a task, even inexpensive electronic scales are suitable at home, which can be purchased at any economic store.

If you decide to make galvanic coatings on various products at home, then surely come across the problem of acquiring chemical reagents from which the electrolytic solution is prepared. The fact is that organizations producing and implementing such chemicals can sell them only to those who have relevant permits. Purchase such chemical reagents to a private person or even an organization that do not possess such documents is problematic.

How to prepare a product to the procedure

After you made your galvanic apparatus, we found all the necessary equipment and chemical components, you can proceed to such an important process as the preparation of the product that will be exposed to a galvanic. The importance of such a process is very difficult to overestimate, since it is precisely from the quality of its implementation in many respects, which characteristics will have a ready-made coating.

In most cases, the preparation of the product to the galvanic is not limited to the cleaning of its surface from contamination and its degreasing. The subsequent grinding is also performed using sandpaper and special pastes.

The electroplating coating allocates all flaws of the surface, so the processed item must be perfectly prepared, that is, all chips, scratches and sinks are eliminated

In order to degrease the treated surface in front of the electroplating, organic solvents can be used in pure or prepare a special solution for these purposes. In particular, for effective degreasing steel or cast iron at home, solutions are prepared, which include caustic soda, liquid glass, sodium carbonate and sodium phosphate. Degreasing products from such metals are performed in a heated to 90 ° solution. Colored metals can be effectively determined by solutions containing in its composition the economic soap and phosphorous sodium.

In order to obtain a high-quality galvanic coating in both home and under production conditions, it is also necessary to remove the oxide film from the treated surface, for which special decapting solutions with sulfur or hydrochloric acid are used.

Safety requirements

Any galvanic operation (galvanizing, chroming, nickelting, slowness, etc.) is a dangerous technological process, so when it is fulfilled at home, it is necessary to strictly follow the safety requirements. Hazardous electroplating is made both toxic chemicals and high heating of electrolyte, as well as risks associated with any electrochemical processes.

To carry out electroplating at home, it is better to restore a non-residential premises, which can be a garage or workshop. It must necessarily organize high-quality ventilation. All electrical equipment that you will use to make electroplating must be grounded.

Personal safety is the most important rule that should be strictly followed in the exercise of electroplating at home. Measures that are able to provide such safety should be attributed:

  • using the respirator to protect the respiratory tract;
  • protection of hands with soft and durable rubber gloves;
  • using when working glued apron and shoes capable of protecting the legs from burns;
  • protection of organs of vision using special glasses.

In addition, during the procedure, the electroplats should not have anything and drink to be accidentally not precipitated and harmful evaporation.

To be prepared for any surprises that may arise in the process of performing such an operation, it is better to pre-read special literature or even watch the learning video on this topic.

Nickelo

Metal coating with nickel layer at home can be performed as finishing or before chrome. This process was called "galvanotegia", since the nickel layer applied to the surface increases its resistance to negative environmental factors. In addition to high protective properties, the nickel layer is different and decorative attractiveness.

The electrolyte temperature during nickelocation does not exceed 25 °, and the current density is in the range of 1.2 A / DM 2. The electrolyte whose acidity should be within 4-5 pH, is an aqueous solution, which includes such chemical elements such as nickel sulfate, magnesium, sodium, food salt, boric acid.

After completion of the process of electroplating, the product is removed from the electrolytic solution, washed in water, carefully dry and polished.

Chrome

Electroplating chromium at home or at a manufacturing plant allows the surface layer of the processed product higher hardness, corrosion resistance, as well as decorativeness. Since the chromic coating is characterized by a sufficiently high porosity, it is performed after electroplating copper on the processed part (or nickelition). Anodes that are made from lead alloy, tin and antimony are used to perform such a technological operation.

On the final result of chromium, which is quite difficult to perform at home, as it is necessary to use high density currents - up to 100 A / DM 2, various factors have influence. The most significant of them should be attributed:

  • the temperature of the electrolyte used - the shade of the formed coating depends on this parameter, which may be matte (temperature below 35 °), brilliant (35-55 °) and dairy (above 55 °);
  • the chemical composition of the electrolyte affecting the protective properties of the formed coating, as well as its color, which may be dark blue, blue, agate.

The final phase of chromium after extracting the part from the electrolytic solution is washing the treated surface with water, subsequent neutralization in the solution of food soda, another flushing, drying and polishing using special pastes.

Mednation

Mediation using electroplating at home is necessary in order to create a conductive layer on the surface of the processed product, characterized by a small value of electrical resistance, as well as to protect the item from the negative effects of the external environment.

Apply the copper layer on steel and cast iron products, pre-covering them with a nickel layer, is deadly, because for this it is necessary to use a cyanide electrolyte.

After pre-nickelocation, the metal is coated with a layer of copper using a solution of copper sulfur, concentrated sulfuric acid and room temperature.

Gilding and silvering

Metal coating with a layer of silver or gold is not only a galvanoplastic processing method, in which the surface of the processed product is obtained by an exact copy, but also the technology that allows you to create a protective and conductive layer on the parts. To apply for a piece of ferrous silver metal, it must be pre-covered with nickel.

The electrolyte for silvering includes ironcial potassium, sodium carbonate and distilled water. The operating temperature of this solution should not exceed 20 °. As an anodes, when performing silver, the electroplating methods are used by graphite plates.

The galvanoplasty of the house is also possible, in the process of which the surface of the product is formed using a gold layer. In addition, with the help of such a technology, a simple gilding of the part can be performed. At the same time, an aqueous solution of gold with sinerodistic potassium is used for the electroplats. It is possible to operate with such an electrolytic solution only in rooms with a good ventilation system.

Many home masters are asked about how to make the gilding process safer for human health. To solve this problem, poisonous acid can be replaced with ironistosyrody potassium, which is also called bloody salt. Before performing gilding at home, the product is carefully cleaned and coated with copper, if it is made of steel, lead, tin or zinc. To improve the adhesion of the gold layer with the surface to be treated, the product is dipped into a solution of nitric acid mercury.

To change the appearance of a subject or improve its physical properties, this object is in a special way to be covered with a thin layer of copper, chromium, silver. Sometimes it is done to improve the conductive properties of the metal (for example, steepness of steel), sometimes for imitation of antiquity of any object (for example, figurines), sometimes just to give a product more aesthetic species.

Mednation of materials and its use in everyday life

The copper is called the surface coating of any product with the finest layer of copper. This layer may be thick from one to 300 or more micrometers. In everyday life, this process is used in a variety of circumstances. Mediation at home will give the product "an old" view, turn the steel strip into an excellent conductor, will prepare an object for applying another coating.

Mice processes species

The surface coating of the copper layer is a process that can be performed not only on industrial installations, but also in a home workshop. Metal slowness at home can be performed at the highest level. It is only necessary to explore the main features of technology and comply with safety techniques. There are two copies of the surface of the objects.

First technology - "submersible", with the use of electrolyte solution. According to this technology, the workpiece is immersed in the electrolyte between two copper electrodes. After that, the electrodes and the workpiece serves voltage. After some time, the detail is covered with a thin layer of copper. The longer the product will be maintained, the thicker will be the copper layer on its surface.

Second technology - without immersion of the processed item in the electrolyte. This technological process is more complicated than the slowness of steel or any other metal by a submersible way, but, nevertheless, gives excellent quality surface coating with copper film.

Features of the process of slowing steel at home

To slow down at home, it is necessary to perform a number of requirements arising from the technological process itself, since the submersible method implies the use of electrolyte. The solution is caustic, exposed to evaporation, and since during operation it will also be heated, then evaporation will be intense. For holding electroplating at home, you should take care of protective equipment and good ventilation.

Galvanic coating with copper at home, despite enough primitive equipment, it does, nevertheless, excellent results. From all metals, steel provides the most strong connection with the copper film, so it is precisely with the inspection of steel excellent durable current conductors. Steel coating with copper film will give the subject more attractive look.

Before starting the process of copper, you should prepare a home room, workplace, the necessary materials and personal protective equipment for these works. After that, prepare the workpiece. From its surface with a thin emery and small metal brush, an oxidic film should be removed. After removal of the film, the part was washed, degreased in warm soapy water and washed again with clean water under strong pressure.

Steel Money Scheme in Electrolyte

Two copper plates are placed in the container (preferably glass), the electrically interconnected. These plates are the anodes, and are connected by the conductor to the plus of the current source. A conductor connected to the processed workpiece is connected to a minus source, which is a cathode in this chain. The anode circuit includes a row to adjust the current and ammeter for control.

The prepared electrolyte solution is poured into the container, which consists of copper vigorous, distilled water and acid. The solution is poured in an amount sufficient to completely cover the electrodes and the workpiece. A voltage is applied to the scheme, the rod is set at the calculation of 15 mA per square centimeter of the part area.

After half an hour, the voltage is removed, coated with copper item is extracted from the solution, frees from the conductor, is thoroughly washed, it is cut. The process is completed. Recommement: All operations should be carried out in the respirator, in rubber gloves and with ventilation on.

Preparation of the solution for home copper

To perform electroplating at home, except for electrical equipment (DC source, a row, ammeter), it is necessary to prepare the electrolyte solution in which the process will pass. To prepare such a solution, you will need:

  • CUSO 4 - copper vigor;
  • acid - HCl (salt), or HNO 3 (nitrogen), or H 2 SO 4 (sulfur);
  • distilled water.





Depending on the required amount of electrolyte, a solution is prepared in proportion to 100 milliliters of distilled water:

  • copper vigorous - 20 grams;
  • acid any - from two to three milliliters;
  • distilled water - 100 milliliters.

To obtain more solutions, the amount of ingredients increases in proportion.

Necessary equipment, tools, protection means

For slowing down at home, it is necessary to prepare the appropriate equipment, tools, personal protective equipment. The equipment includes, first of all, a DC source. Such a source can be the Battery of the CBS with a voltage of 4.5 volts or ninety-rich batteries "Krone". It should be borne in mind that with the inspection of parts with a large surface area of \u200b\u200bthe power of these batteries may not be enough.

In this case, you need to use several such batteries. You can use a car battery or a small straightener with a voltage of 12 volts. You will also need a small rheostat or a powerful power variable resistor. The devices will need an ammeter or a conventional tester. You will also need a fan for exhaust.

The tools will need emery, passage, crocodile clamps with fed-off guides to capture anodes and processed parts, a small metal brush.

Directly for the medium, a container from a neutral material that does not react with a solution should be prepared. Capacity should also be prepared for the preparation of a solution.

From personal protective equipment, rubber gloves, respirator and neutral glasses should be prepared.

The process of slowness without the use of solution

Homemade steepness can be made, without immersing the part into the electrolyte solution, although a small amount of solution is still needed. This method is effective not only for steel, but also for products made of other metals. Preparation for clearance and the process itself occurs as follows.

The processed part is cleaned from the oxide film, degreases, the conductor connected to the Croodile clamp to it connected with the disadvantage of the current source.

The copper wire with a diameter of one and a half millimeter is inspired from isolation and is in a bristle toothbrush so that it is inside the bristles. The second end connects to the positive terminal of the current source. The current is turned on, the brush is wetted in the solution, after which the brush is driven over the surface of the product being processed.

Periodically brush again wetted in solution. The operation is carried out as long as the subject does not completely cover copper.

The copper is called the process of electroplating copper on various surfaces. The copper layer has a strong adhesion to metals, smoothes the defects of the surface covered, has high electrical conductivity and is suitable for further processing. Mediation can be used as an independent process, as well as part of more complex (silver, nickel, chromium). Along with the industrial method, the slowness is practiced at home, allowing you to solve many household problems. In addition to high technical characteristics, this coverage looks great, which determines its use in various design solutions.

Medical technology

In industrial environments, the slowness occurs in powerful electroplating baths, equipped with automatic equipment and other special equipment. However, this process is available for completing both the house, allowing you to do without complex chemical equipment.

The sequence of technological operations is as follows:

1. Oxyde film is removed from the metal surface. Empty paper, brush, polishing paste;

2. The object covered is degreased by a solution of soda and is thoroughly washed with water;

3. Two copper plates (anodes) are plunged into the glass container on the copper wire, the part is suspended between them;

4. Anodes are connected to the "plus" of the DC source, and the intake part to the "minus";

5. The electrical circuit consistently includes a row, regulating current strength, and an ammeter. As a DC source, you can apply a car battery or power supply;

6. The electrolyte is poured into the container so that it completely covers the surface of the anodes. Perform this operation is especially accurate, not allowing the eating fluid to fall into open areas of the body!

7. The current density is set at 2a on DM2 surface treated, electrolyte temperature: 20-26 degrees, processing duration: 20-25 minutes;

8. Copyright item is extracted from the tank, the process is completed. The thickness of the copper layer can be increased due to the length of the residence details in the galvanic bath.

The composition of the electrolyte is not complicated: sulfuric acid - 40 g, sulfate copper - 190 g, water - 980

Several Copper Soviets:

  • sulk acid copper can be purchased in stores for gardeners and gardens, and sulfuric acid and distilled water - in auto shops;
  • as an electroplating bath, it is necessary to use a container from the material resistant to the action of aggressive media. You can take a glass jar or a small plastic canister;
  • in order for the layer of the apparatus copper not turned out to be loosened, the prepared surface should be as thoroughly polished. In addition, the operating current should not be too large. Time loss will be compensated by the quality of the product.

Examples of copper do it yourself

Sometimes it is necessary to replace the emerging copper furniture fittings, and there are only nickel-plated products on sale. In this case, you can easily collect the installation for applying copper. Required devices and materials: 12 V / 3 A power supply, sulfuric acid and copper vigor.

First you need to remove nickelice. For this, the part is held by a tweezers, which serves "minus" from the power supply. Cloth fixed on

the positive electrode moistened in 5% sulfuric acid, the surface of the product is wiping.

When removing the nickel, poisonous pairs are formed, from which it is necessary to protect the respiratory organs. It is advisable to use special glasses and a carbon filter respirator. Purified surface is polished.

The next step is the assembly of the protozoa galvanic installation. A copper electrode is placed in the jar, connected to the "plus" of BP, and the detail processed to "minus".

The electrolyte consisting of copper sulfate, water and 5% sulfuric acid in proportion of 1/5/3 and the current is fed. Finished products are polished to a pleasant brilliance.

For home medal there are many different applications. You can apply copper on aluminum cutlery, giving them a second life, on fishing flats, candlesticks and much more. Particularly impressive, in which the decorative coating is applied to non-metallic items: plant stems, leaves, acorns and even on dried insects. The natural texture of the source material, combined with the beauty of the galvanic coating, creates a unique artistic effect.

The manufacturing technology of such products is somewhat more complicated, but quite feasible at home. There is no conductive layer in the material covered material, so the special electrically conductive varnish applied to the surface is used instead. The lacquer formulation includes organic solvents, film consumers and fine-dispersed graphite powder providing electrical conductivity.

The lacquer is applied with a thin layer on a dry plant, dries, and in an hour everything is ready for the medium. After electroplating processing, you can additionally improve the appearance of the product. There are several ways to give electroplated copper of various color shades, including by patinating, chemical staining and oxidation.

The quality of artworks received according to these technologies is at the level of real jewelry.

Dear readers, comment on the article, ask questions, subscribe to new publications - We are interested in your opinion :)

The process of extracting metal from a solution and applying it to the surface of the metal product is called galvanotegia. Mednation - applying copper on the surface of the metal product.

The process of the medium is distributed in industry, and is used not only as an independent process, but also as a preparatory process before chrome, nickelting and silver. The use of copper, as a preparatory operation, is due to the fact that copper is very firmly held on steel, levels of surface defects and other metals are very well deposited for copper, and clean steel is bad.

Metal slowness at home is not such a complex operation, there are two ways: with immersion in electrolyte and without.

Metal slowness with immersion in electrolyte.

Metal object Process, as usual, emery paper to remove the oxide film, wipe the brush, as it should be ringed with water, degrease in hot soda solution and rinse again. To the jar or a glass, lower the wires (better copper) two copper plates - the anodes. Between them on the wire, you suspend the part. Those wires that go from copper plates are connecting together and connect to the positive pole of the current source, and the part to the negative; Turn on the RESOtte chain to adjust the current, and the milliammeter (tester). DC source with voltage not more than 6 V.

The electrolyte solution for the medium: 20 g of copper mood and 2-3 ml of sulfuric acid per 100 ml of water - pour into the container, the solution must completely cover the electrodes. Using the row, set the current from 10 to 15 mA per square centimeter of the surface surface. Twenty minutes turn off the current and remove the item - it is covered with a thin layer of copper. The longer the process is going, the thicker the copper layer.

Mednation without immersion in the electrolyte.

This process is suitable not only for steel, but also for zinc and aluminum. From one end of the soft stranded wire, remove the insulation and lose thin copper wires so that the copper brush turns out. For convenience, bring it to a wooden stick or pencil, and the other end of the wire is connected to the positive pole of the current source.

Prepare the electrolyte - a concentrated solution of copper mood, preferably slightly acidified, - and pour into a wide flask, in which the "brush" will be comfortably.

Prepare a metal plate or another small object, preferably with a flat surface. Wipe it in shallow emery skirt and degreased, boil in the solution of washing soda. Put the plate in the bath or cuvette and connect it with the wire to the negative pole of the current source. The scheme is collected, it remains only to introduce the electrolyte.

Dry the "brush" into the solution of copper mood and spend it along the plate, trying not to touch the surface; Work so that the electrolyte layer is always between the record and brush. Wiring all the time should be moistened with a solution. In the eyes of the plate will be covered with a red layer of metal copper. For the processing of a small detail, few minutes will come. When the coating is applied, dry the part in the air and the matte layer of copper. Soda is glittering a wool or cloth.

Such a process in which the item is not lowered into an electrolytic bath, but to be treated outside by small sections, adding the electrolyte all the time, is used in cases where the item is so large that it will not pick up a suitable bath.

The galvanic is a section of electrochemical science, which studies the deposition of some elements on any surface. With the help of electroplating at home or in the industry, you can apply a thin layer of metal on the product, which will act as a protective layer or perform decorative functions. Recently, the decorative coating is gaining popularity with those who want to make an original gift to their friends and relatives.

General

Electroplating coating is technological or decorative protective. This is a thin metal thin layer, which, depending on the galvanic elements, can perform aesthetic functions. Electroplasty does not increase the strength of the product, since in this case there are large production facilities, but for beauty and giving "freshness" is quite suitable.

Galvanic reactions occur with a constant electric current. A solution is poured into a special container-dielectric - the electrolyte in which two anode is immersed. Anodes must be made of metal, which will be deposited on the product covered.

The processed item joins the minus output and places between the anodes. It serves as a cathode. Anodes, in turn, join the positive contact of the power source. They become part of the chain, conducting a current into the electrolyte and giving it its metal elements. The electrolyte transmits the necessary particles of the processed part, they gradually envelop its thin layer. Anodes in the area must exceed several times the billet size.

In other words, galvanization is the transfer of the metal molecules of the solution on the product at the time of electric flow through them.

Any galvanic process can be divided into general stages:

  • Assembling galvanic installation.
  • Preparation of electrolyte solution.
  • Processing and preparation of the sample.
  • Run a galvanic process.

Equipment can be prepared independently. First, a suitable power source is selected. It can be a battery (for processing small products) or battery. A lowering power supply is suitable, which gives a permanent current to 12 volts at the output. Sometimes an inverter from the welding machine is used. Reostat is selected to regulate the current.

From the neutral, resistant chemically aggressive material substances, a wide and deep bath is selected. It should be borne in mind that the electrolytic solution with a galvanic process may heat up to the ninety degrees Celsius.

Two plates are prepared, which will be conductive anodes.

To heat the tank with electrolyte, you need an electrical device with the possibility of smooth adjustment of the temperature regime. Most often use the sole of an iron or a small electric stove. With their help, the solution is heated to the required temperature and acceleration of the reaction.

Chemical reagents must be stored in a tightly blocked glassware. Preferably every item to sign.

Weighs will be required to accurately measure the mass of substances, since the necessary accuracy of the weight of the components is one gram. Such scales can be purchased, but can be made independently, using the old Soviet coins instead of Gurek. The weight of the "yellow" coins accurately corresponds to their nominal.

After the necessary substances are collected, the containers are found, the electrical circuit with power is collected and the heating system is prepared, you can make cleaning of the workpiece.

If it is not enough to clean the item well, the galvanic coating is fragile or it will be uneven. Sometimes enough simple degreasing of the subject. Acetone or alcohol solution can well degrease the surface, gasoline can be used.

Some masters hold products from steel in heated up to 90 degrees Celsius solution of sodium phosphate solution. Colored metals can be cleaned in the same solution without heating it.

If there are corrosion or other flaws on the product, the surface of the workpiece is polished with sandpaper.

Sometimes the security technique for various works at home is told casual. But when performing any galvanic work, it is necessary to strictly follow safety.

The danger lies in the use of toxic chemicals, the high heating temperature of the solution and increased risks, which accompany electrochemical reactions.

Best of all galvanic work in the garage or workshop with mandatory ventilation or ventilation of the room. Special attention should be paid to grounding equipment. It is necessary to observe personal security measures, namely:

  • The respiratory tract should be protected by a respirator.
  • Hands and wrists should be hidden in high and durable rubber gloves.
  • Shoes should protect from burns, and clothing covered with a glued apron.
  • Be sure to wear special protective glasses.

Before starting work on a cleaner at home, you need to prepare the necessary materials and equipment. It is necessary to take care of the source of voltage and direct current. There are many recommendations regarding current strength whose scatter can be greater. Therefore, it is desirable to have a risk with the ability to smooth voltage adjustment and to gradually complete the process. The source can serve as a car battery or a rectifier with a voltage at the outlet no more than 12 volts. For the first experiments there will be a fairly ordinary battery from 4.5 to 9 volts.

Then the container is selected for the electrolytic solution, it is best made from heat-resistant glass. In any case, all tanks for electrolysis must be dielectrics and to withstand the temperature at least than 80 degrees Celsius.

Two large copper sheets will be suitable as an anodes. They must overlap the workpiece. From chemical reagents will be required:

  • Copper core.
  • Sonic acid or sulfur.
  • Distilled water.

Mediation at home is well-deserved, since it is very well and reliably resting on steel products. The main condition is to properly comply with the process technology.

There are two ways of applying copper to the surface:

  1. Placing the workpiece into the electrolyte solution.
  2. Non-contact method. In this case, the product is not immersed in solution.

It is prepared and processed the surface of the product with a fine emery and brushes. After that, the item washes in running water, degreases and washed again.

The stages of the process of the mediation are as follows:

  • Two copper anode is connected to a network to positive contacts and place them in a glass jar.
  • A contact with a negative voltage value is supplied to the treated product and freely suspend between the anodes.
  • Connect a retail according to the electrical circuit for the possibility of regulating the current force.
  • The solution is prepared in the correct proportions. Per 100 g of distilled water is needed 20 g of copper sulfate and 2-3 g of hydrochloric acid. Instead of hydrochloric acid, you can use the other.
  • The solution is poured into the dishes with copper plates and in the detail so that they completely disappear under the surface of the solution.
  • The voltage source is connected. The retake is achieved by the necessary strength of the current from the approximate calculation of 10-15 million per each square centimeter of the part area.

The whole process takes about 15-20 minutes. After the mandatory shutdown of the power supply and cooling of the solution, the finished product with a copper layer on the surface is removed from the bank.

This method is interesting because it can be used to process not only steel items, but also made from other materials. For example, aluminum and zinc. Process procedure Next:

  • From the stranded copper wire is made of brush. The end of the wire is taken off. Copper wiring creates a similarity of a brush to then attach it to a wooden handle holder.
  • The second end of the wire is connected to the positive contact of the electrical circuit.
  • A standard electrolyte solution from copper sulfate and hydrochloric acid is poured into a wide container.
  • Pre-purified and overswearing a metal blank joins a negative contact and placed in an empty container.
  • The improvised brush is dipped into the electrolyte solution and is carried out on the surface of the workpiece without contact. This action is repeated until the result is obtained.

When the item completely covers the copper layer, the power supply is turned off and the process is completed. The item is rinsed in water and dried.

Often, with the help of copper electrolysis, cutlery made from aluminum are updated. If there is no experience in this process, then you can stretch the copper on aluminum plates. Process procedure:

Electroplasty is an electrochemical method of giving the subject of a certain form by precipitation of metal. Most often, this method is used when processing the metal of non-metallic objects or in the manufacture of copies of jewelry.

If, with electroplating, the product does not have electrically conductive properties, it is pre-covered with graphite, sometimes bronze. Then the master does with the copy of the cast and begins the galvanic process. As a material, the cast is used gypsum, graphite or easy-melting metal.

The galvanic is a very interesting and cognitive process, but it is associated with active substances that can harm health and harm property or environment. Therefore, before starting electroplating with your own hands, you need to take all security measures, study a little theory of the process and the peculiarities of the behavior of chemical reagents.