How to: Copper Plating At Home… It’s Simple!

In this video I show you how to copper plate an object. I worked day’s to develop the method I show you in the video and I’m exited to share it with you guy’s! I hope it is helpful to you. If it is, please consider subscribing to support this channel. Thanks a lot for watching!
Music: Whenever
Musician: LiQWYD

[@jimsvideos7201]

Thank you for sharing your research!

[@kaspersworkshopmanners]

My pleasure Jim, I hope you can use it!

[@roelrohner4121]

Impressive. Well done.

[@kaspersworkshopmanners]

Thank you!😉

[@mannokoenders7465]

Nice!! 😃 Its like watching magic. 👍

[@kaspersworkshopmanners]

Haha, thanks! It felt a bit like magic when I found the right way to let the copper stick to the metal. 😅

[@d-not-u]

Thanks for sharing. Subed for your uploads.

[@kaspersworkshopmanners]

Thank you very much! I appreciate your support! A new restoration is on it’s way….🙏🏻

[@d-not-u]

@@kaspersworkshopmanners shall be watching.

[@lessieallen2170]

Thank you for the demo! What can I use to remove the coating from metal folding chairs in order to try this?

[@kaspersworkshopmanners]

Hi Lessie, mostly these chairs are chrome coated. It is a unhealthy process to remove the chrome with chemicals. Maybe you can try sandbalsting or sanding? But give it a try to copperplate over the original coating! Maybe the result is just fine!

[@lessieallen2170]

@@kaspersworkshopmanners Thanks for the reply! I want to ultimately try it out on a metal door that I have. Can you explain the battery part and where you purchased it? I was able to find all of the other items.

[@a1930ford]

What do you put onto the freshly plated copper piece to prevent oxidation happening later? Also, How long can a piece be submerged to plate it heavily and not just a light coat to it? What is too long a time to leave in the solution? Thanks.

[@kaspersworkshopmanners]

Hi James, I use a special gun oil on almost everyting to prevent rust. If that could suit your situation to, look on Amazone for gun oil. I use the brand with the red "Balistic" logo ;-) If oil is not an option you could use a zink spray or rust shield spray.

[@TheRch123185]

So what can’t be copper plated? I’ve tried a hammer and the plating just peals off. I tried a license plate cover and it didn’t plate. Not sure what I’m doing wrong.

[@kaspersworkshopmanners]

Hmm, a clean, polished hammer, looks ideal to me for copperplating. Work clean, pure copper, looow currency😉 If the licenceplate cover was nickelplated, the copper will not hold…why? I actually don’t know. Maybe you can sandblast the existing coating of and then try to copperplate the bare metal.

[@voidfalse]

How strong is your copper layer? I'm using hydrochloric acid (toiler cleaner with water 1:5 ratio) and leave it overnight at very low voltage like 0.5V. The plating looks fine but if I apply dremel to buff it, the layer is removed after about 3 hard strokes

[@kaspersworkshopmanners]

If you leave the piece in overnight, the copper will not ‘build’ a thick layer. You have to dip it in and then dry it, dip it in and dry etc. I really struggled to get a strong layer. I figured out that the technique I use in the video, is the only way I managed to get a decent layer. I can easily buff the layer with a soft polishing compound. Do not use a cutting compound or heavy polisher. Better: be sure you have the right gloss on your piece before (!) you plate your piece. So buff the crap out of your piece before copperplating and then try to build the layers (it takes a while!) And as a last step you can (hand) polish the piece for a final touch up… Good luck!!

[@voidfalse]

@@kaspersworkshopmanners I'm using cotton buff wheel with green compound. I'll get some distilled water and some purer acid than toilet cleaner, then will try your method. Thanks!

[@kaspersworkshopmanners]

@@voidfalse Super! I use the same polishing stuff: cotton wheel on my benchgrinder with the green highgloss. But only light and for a short time after plating. The mayor polishing job is done before plating. I think the composition of your fluids must be spot on like that together with veeery low voltage😉 I hope you succeed! Don’t give up, in the end you WILL get it and than you plate piece after piece! 💪

[@memewala785]

What voltage & ampere use and used copper sulfate

[@kaspersworkshopmanners]

I used as low volts and amps a I could. An AA battery will do the trick. See my other video how to make the copper plating solution. I used a simple copper pipe. Good luck with your project!

[@joehomer4421]

Question: can the plating process be done without using a copper plating solution, ie, water only? How to make thicker, heavier copper coat that will stand up to a marine environment?

[@TheStigma]

No, the dissolved copper ions in the solution is what plates the anode, so you need it The richer the solution the faster the plating. However as long as you have some pure copper and an electrolyte medium (usually an acid + deionized water) you can make your own solution. Alternatively buy ready-made copper sulfate. Pure copper is fairly easy to get from old discarded wiring ect. and since plating is usually very thin a little can go a long way.

[@kaspersworkshopmanners]

I think TheStigma gave the answer…. 😉

[@1937Brett]

Does it work that well because of how conductive the part is?

[@kaspersworkshopmanners]

Hi Brett, the better the current can flow the easier the result. With a voltage regulator you can influence this behaviour. I play a little with the regulator but never ran into problems because of conductivity. If the nickel will not stick, just leave it in longer, and wiggel your part once in a while.

[@1937Brett]

@@kaspersworkshopmanners I have tried 0.8 V with a current of 1.5 so I would need to up my current? And thanks

[@Street_doghelper]

Yellow brass electro pleting camical how to make please sir ♥️

[@kaspersworkshopmanners]

Hi Vinay! Thanks for your question. I’m not sure what the best methode is…🤔 I would start with the heating method. Heat the object with a propane torch and than brush with a brass wirewheel or brass brush keeping the object real hot. Needs to be real brass wires ofcause… If that is not working I would try to add zinc to my copper solution (zinc anode and cathode right in the copper solution) together it seems to give a golden finish… but I never tried so it’s at your own risk! 😅 Maybe I make a quick video if more people ask for it…

[@mladenpetrov1]

And what was the liquid in the jar ?

[@kaspersworkshopmanners]

Hi Mladen, It’s a copper acetate. A mix of distilled water and hydrochloric acid, in which you can ‘desolve’ copper by electrolysis. You can see in one of my other video’s how I make it.

[@mladenpetrov1]

@@kaspersworkshopmanners yes, I saw it after. Because first I say how to chrome and then that should be first copper and then chrome :) it will be very interesting if u do one bumper for the car

[@Street_doghelper]

Hi sir

[@kaspersworkshopmanners]

Hi vinay, see my answer to your previous post 😉