Electroforming issue(s)

[LunaJewelry]

Hi!

I just joined this team and am hoping that this will be the right place to ask about my dilemma...

I'm very new to electroforming (as in I just started this past week). On my first attempt, I successfully electroformed a leaf. I was so excited and thought "hey, this is easier than I thought it would be". I must have jinxed myself, lol, because I haven't been able to electroform anything since.

I've cleaned my copper solution several times. I pickled my anode and the copper wire that my jewelry piece hangs on to be sure that they were clean. I use gloves to ensure that I don't inadvertently transfer any oils from my hands to any of the components. the wire that my jewelry piece hangs on is touching the conductive paint. The rectifier is working, and I can see bubbles form when I turn it on. For me the puzzling thing is that the wire that my jewelry piece hangs on is plating, but my piece isn't. I've tried several pieces thinking that maybe I didn't coat them sufficiently. I've tried using other leaves, polymer clay pieces, glass, etc.. Same result- the wire that under the solution is plating with copper, but my jewelry piece isn't.

I've searched the internet to find ways to troubleshoot this, but I haven't found any answers except "be sure that the conductive paint is touching the wire that your piece hangs from" (which I know is the case every time).

Has anyone with electroforming experience run into this? What solved it?

Thanks in advance!

[Former_Member]

Hello fellow electroformer! Hopefully you've figured it out by now but just in case you gave up.......it sounds like either you have a bad connection to your pieces or your conductive paint is not very conductive. The paint has to be bone dry and dried for at least 24 hours. The longer you leave it to dry the more conductive it is. When wrapping the piece you only need one point of connection, the more wraps around the piece the more confused the current will become, so avoid wrapping and crossing the wire over itself. If you can just hook your piece, all the better.

Regarding the bubbling - your voltage is too high, you should see any bubbling at all as when something electroforms with a too high current the copper will be a rusty red and will crumble away.

Try some of the sherri haab paint, it's the best I've used. Hope that helps!

[HareAndFern]

Amy, Julia, may I please ask you what lacquer do you use for organic pieces? Every tutorial I've seen says you have to use an ordinary clear lacquer, but what lacquer is it exactly? A water-based one like decoupage laquers? I have no idea, and since I live in Croatia and have to order everything from abroad, I really have to know what to buy. Thanks :)

[Former_Member]

I want to try Elctroforming, But where do I get a good but inexpensive Electrofroming machine? I think they call it a rectifier?

[Former_Member]

HI I have been electroforming for a while and it is a fun but sometimes confusing process as you have to learn it all yourself it seems. Not much info.
For the first question I recomend using an insulated wire to attach your piece to the power source. I had the same problem when I started and this solved it. I still get a little build up at the wire tip sometimes but it is small and the piece gets done actually

For the last poster for a cheap rectifier I recomend just searcing for an adjustable dc power source. I found one for like 50 dollars. I have gotten extremely good results and some shifty ones and I am not sure if this is due to the power source or just the process of electroforming and my technique. Over all I am very happy and it usually works well and I have yet to think it would be worth the jump to the 300 dollar rectifiers I have seen sold specificially for electroforming. Although if anyone does have an expensive one I would be interested in hearing if it is worth the investment.

[MothandFlameJewelry]

hello everyone, I electroform as well and I was wondering if anyone electroforms pearls and if they use lacquer? the one I have gives it a shiny surface- is all lacquer the same?