How is it done?

Hi Everyone:

I am new to the list and a hobby silversmith. I like to work with natural
stones and crystals and I have seen some of these capped in what looks like
either electroplating or wax molded, althought the finished look is a little
too loose I think to be wax molded and then cast. The surface of the finished
metal capping, etc, is a bit bumpy, lumpy, rough, etc. I am not sure of the
process.
I have some stones which are impossible to cap in the normal cut and solder
way because of their irregularities or protrustions. Can any one on the list
tell me how this other process is done that I have seen?The overall effect is
not as clean looking as it would be with the normal cutting and soldering so
I am assuming it must be electroplating over wax or something similar that
makes the silver or gold mold itself nicely into all the irregular nooks and
crannies of the crystals and stone, forming a snug fit between the metal and
the stones. I’ve seen this process used on the metaphysical crystal wands as
well.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have looked in my books but can’t
find anything that talks of this process or shows finished pieces which look
like the ones I have seen.

Thanks in advance for any help and advice.

Warm regards,
June
EMail: Gurushakti@aol.com

Hi June!

It sounds to me that you are referring to electroforming. It’s similar
to electroplating, in that metal is transferred to, and built up on a
target object. I know I should be using technical terms like anode,
cathode and electrolytical solution… but it’s been far too long for me
to use them properly. :slight_smile:

Back in the 80’s I played with an electroforming rectifier a friend
built. We applied a lacquer coating to the edge of some slabs then
dusted with copper powder. We then built up more copper on that base
with through electroforming. The built up material can then be plated
with a precious metal, if desired.

All kinds of things can be electroformed… leaves and such. I’m sure
someone here can point you to a more detailed technical reference.

Dave Sebaste

Hi Everyone:

I am new to the list and a hobby silversmith. I like to work with natural
stones and crystals and I have seen some of these capped in what looks like
either electroplating or wax molded, althought the finished look is a little
too loose I think to be wax molded and then cast. The surface of the finished
metal capping, etc, is a bit bumpy, lumpy, rough, etc. I am not sure of the
process.
I have some stones which are impossible to cap in the normal cut and solder
way because of their irregularities or protrustions. Can any one on the list
tell me how this other process is done that I have seen?The overall effect is
not as clean looking as it would be with the normal cutting and soldering so
I am assuming it must be electroplating over wax or something similar that
makes the silver or gold mold itself nicely into all the irregular nooks and
crannies of the crystals and stone, forming a snug fit between the metal and
the stones. I’ve seen this process used on the metaphysical crystal wands as
well.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have looked in my books but can’t
find anything that talks of this process or shows finished pieces which look
like the ones I have seen.

Thanks in advance for any help and advice.

Warm regards,
June
EMail: Gurushakti@aol.com

June: its sounds to me like it was electroformed. How this works is an
electrically conductive paint is put where the silver is to go on the piece
then its heavily heavily plated. The plating metal conforms to whatever the
paint is dabbed onto and even stones can be set into the surface this way.
Dave

Art Jewelry for Conscious People
http://www.opendoor.com/stephensdesign/crystalguy.html

Welllllll !.. shouldn’t … but will!!! De’ Dave A., of SDJS Wax gun fame
and I have been discussing a Plating pen which will be forth coming
shortly… assumeing, a successful pilot program … “Big Susan’s, and Dave
S’s” approval to announce… but anyway…

Investigation via the RioGrande catalog suggest that Eletroforming can be
done with low Voltage and 300 Mili-Amps… If you believe this, then the
SDJS team may(don’t want to preannounce… Big Dave S…Will complain)
suggest a DIY tool that will do(according to the Rio Publication)the Job…

Jim

At 10:29 AM 11/8/96 -0800, you wrote:

Dear Dave:

Thanks for the feedback. I don’t anything about electro forming but at least
now I have a name I can research. Thanks very much!

Warm regards,
June

Look UP … ELectoforming

At 12:23 PM 11/8/96 -0500, you wrote:

Thanks for the feedback on electroforming, Dave. I guess I will have to find
some electroplating equipment down the line.

Regards,
June

Thanks Jim for the

If you are anyone has any suggestions on basic, beginner equipment and a good
pamphlet, book on electroforming I would be most appreciative. I have a local
rock shop that sometimes has good buys on used equipment and maybe I can find
something there.

Thanks!
June

If you are anyone has any suggestions on basic, beginner equipment and a good
pamphlet, book on electroforming I would be most appreciative. I have a local
rock shop that sometimes has good buys on used equipment and maybe I can find
something there. >June

For electroplating you only need a DC current source, a flashlight or
larger battery, or a battery charger,or a childs toy train or car
transformer (I used this for years).

I suggest starting plating experiments with copper acid (for the formula
see the ‘Patinating brass alloys’ article at the Tips from the Jewelrs
section at Ganoksin.com. I suggest a book by Ammen on plating to start but
it is a very simple thing really. Stay away from Cyanide plating solutions
until you really know what you are doing and safety experts like Michael
McCann don’t think they should be used at all. Swest Jewelery supplies
carries a line of non-cyanide plating solutions. Read the ‘Cleaning Metal
Surfaces’ article in the Tips section for cleanliness issues prior to
plating. Oppi Uhntrachts book has a good bit on it as does a book on
plating from the German/English ‘Practical Goldsmith’ series, avaialble
least expensively from the GIA bookstore. I think I said this before on the
forum but their current catalog is the best catalog of jewelry/metals books
around.

Swest (USA) 1-800-527-5057

Charles

Brain Press
Box 1624, Ste M
Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2L7
Canada

tel: 403-263-3955
fax: 403-283-9053
Email: @Charles_Lewton-Brain

Just getting uinto Electro plat and Forming myself… Dave A and I are
building a pen… IT MAY DO BOTH … IT WILL DO PLATING!! … FORMING IS A
GUESS… ACCORDING TO BOOK THE AMPS WILL DO ??? HANG IN THERE???

WE MAY YOU TO TEST THE FORMING???

Jim

AlnAt 10:50 AM 11/9/96 -0500, you wrote:

I have some experience with electroforming and if you need advice I will
tell you what I know on various aspects…Gavin

Gavin,

Building a Plating gun … will 12 volts at 100 Mill AMP… do
Eletorforming… the unit in the RIO book suggest the same specs???

Or is this just a Toy??

Jim

At 07:07 AM 11/12/96 -0600, you wrote:

Jim Chambers wrote:

Gavin,

Building a Plating gun … will 12 volts at 100 Mill AMP… do
Eletorforming… the unit in the RIO book suggest the same specs???

Or is this just a Toy??

Jim

At 07:07 AM 11/12/96 -0600, you wrote:

I have some experience with electroforming and if you need advice I will
tell you what I know on various aspects…Gavin

orchid@ganoksin.com

orchid@ganoksin.com

The copper solution I use recommends 1 volt or less…G

Gun is variable Voltage… the RIO suggest 100 amps??? enough??

Jim

At 03:07 AM 11/14/96 -0600, you wrote:

Jim Chambers wrote:

Gavin,

Building a Plating gun … will 12 volts at 100 Mill AMP… do
Eletorforming… the unit in the RIO book suggest the same specs???

Or is this just a Toy??

Jim

At 07:07 AM 11/12/96 -0600, you wrote:

I have some experience with electroforming and if you need advice I will
tell you what I know on various aspects…Gavin

orchid@ganoksin.com

procedures

orchid@ganoksin.com

procedures