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How To Begin Electroforming

I am finishing boulder opal as gems and as a freeform stone I need to apply metal i.e. silver and gold to enhance these stones. I would like any information which will assist me I know nothing about metal plating but have heard that metalforming using solutions will enable me to finish these stones. I do not understand many of the answers to questions I have read. I have not had anything to do with chemicals and electricity before. So could the answers be in very simple language.I have talked to people and they say using cyanide (which requires a license) is not good with boulder opal as it goes into the base or matrix and can be lethal to children if they put it in their mouth.Is this true? Are there solutions which do not use lethal substances? How are these applied. Is it expensive in Australia to use electroforming and is it expensive to set up?Is there a website which has How To information for electroforming?

Lois Langley
hobbyist - Gracemere, Queensland, Australia
2004

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Firstly go to night school and learn about practical electroplating and/or jewelry making. Secondly find an electroplating or electroforming company to teach you the tricks of the trade. Alternatively, seek an electroforming company and discuss your needs with them and let them do the work.

Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist
Chesham, Bucks, UK
2004

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2004

Process can be extremely simple and non cyanide plating solutions are known from 19. century.

Silver electroforming solution:

40 gm silver chloride
200 gm potassium ferrocyanide ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links]
20 gm potassium carbonate
1 lit water, anode SS

gold electroforming:

50 gm gold chloride
200 gm potassium ferrocyanide ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links]
40 gm potassium carbonate
1 lit water,SS anode

For small work you can use hobby drill rectifier. Oppi Untracht's book Metalworking Techniques for Craftsmen is something for you..

Good luck!

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia

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August 20, 2008

A short response to Lois L.,
I am searching for a company or person to either teach me or provide an electroforming service for the exact same reason, placing gold on boulder opal, and would be really interested to know if you have had any luck with your enquiries as I seem to be turning up blank here in Melbourne. If you have any info would you be gracious enough to pass on to a southern neighbour. Thanks
Steven kay

Steven Kay
- Melbourne Australia

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Hi--I also want to use electroforming to make Gold settings on polished Opals.
Can anyone tell me a person who does this process in Adelaide
Would like to do the process my self--can anyone tell me if I use Cyanide free gold solution---is this suitable for electroforming-----or do I have to use the Cyanide Gold solution.
Would appreciate help from anybody electro forming Gold onto Polished Opals

Ron Adam
private opal cutter - Renmark Sth.Aust Australia
July 14, 2010

Ed. note: Sorry, this RFQ is old & outdated, so contact info is no longer available. However, if you feel that something technical should be said in reply, please post it; no public commercial suggestions please ( huh? why?)

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Ed. note: sourcing issues will be handled by our supporting advertisers contacting you in private, Ron.