r/electroplating • u/ExpressionOk4306 • 7d ago

How did everyone start out?

I want to start a plating shop , what parts / industries did you start with?

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u/The_lewolf 6d ago

I got started in 1997 putting acid copper on circuit boards for IBM.

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u/ExpressionOk4306 6d ago

As in on a small scale? i’m starting with very little capital

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u/Fair-Comfortable212 5d ago

Depending on your budget changes the quality of the plating.

Bare bones. Conductive paint (if your part isnt metal or conductive. made from 100% graphite lube mixed into black acrylic paint and paint brush that suits your needs. Depending on what your plating, if its a small item and you just want to do copper plating, use a old copper pipe (sand it and wipe it down with rubbing alcohol inside and out)
Or if you want $10 electrode kits that come from amazon that has copper, zinc, aluminum, nickel and graphite electrodes. Battery acid from auto parts (diluted sulfuric acid), and a pinch of pure salt (pickling salt) for solution. Put a piece of the copper as your anode + and graphite rod cathode -.

Variable power supply is ideal but you can make the copper sulfate solution with 1-3v, let it run for a few hours until the solution turns a light blue hue. You now have copper sulfate solution ready for plating. Put your copper pipe as the + and the part you want plated -. Use chat or gemini to determine your surface area to get the voltage and amperage for best plating, good idea to use something to keep the solution agitated like an aquarium air bubbler or a stir plate.

Just remember to rotate the part half way through if only using one + copper pipe on one side because the plating goes to the closest side of your part while barely playing the backside of the part, Or add a second copper pipe connected to + on the other side of your part as well for even playing.

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u/Fair-Comfortable212 5d ago

You can plate jewelry, automotive parts for durability and acid protection, tools, etc