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Electroplating wood

Hi,

I am trying to electroplate wooden balls/spheres, for a replica wimshurst machine. I sprayed them with graphite and used a solution of copper sulphate, but I am way unclear on the volts and amps for this type of application. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Also I was wondering if I just spray the graphite on and then spray some shellac on over that, would they still work, minus the beauty? - (for those of you familiar with electrostatic surfaces)

Thirdly, would a metallic spray paint work? Or is there something better looking than the graphite that I can use? Even clear conductive coating? Heck a spark jumping off the wood tones would look nicer than a gray graphite color.

Thank you.

Kevin Perkins
hobbyist - Seattle, Washington
2004

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Acid copper plating:

copper sulphate......27 oz/gal
sulfuric acid.......8 oz/gal
temp. 80-100 F,10-25 asf,2-5 V,pH less than 1
copper anode

Good luck!

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia
2004

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Why don't you try gilding with gold or dutch gold, and after you can go for what so ever plating easy, or aluminize using aluminum foil .

Khair Shishani
aircraft maintenance - Al Ain, UAE

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Thanks folks, I forgot where I posted this, so it took me a while to respond. I guess I'll go look up gold gilding.

Kevin Perkins
hobbyist - Seattle, Washington
2004
2004

How electroplate copper on wooden irregular shaped materials?

AHA Hamid Iftikhar
product designer - Pakistan
December 13, 2009