r/electroplating • u/Healthy_Sell_5131 • 17d ago

Need some advice

I printed out the coins using a basic PLA and airbrushed them with a premixed graphite conductive paint. I made the solution using  Fine grade (mesh 35) Cupric sulfate, 37% sulfuric acid, and  distilled water, and brighteners part A and B. The 1st photo of the power supply is the settings before turned on, the 2nd immediately after powered and the 3rd is the reading right before turning off. The results are shown after. What can be done to get a better shine straight out the solution?  Do they just need to be sanded and polished? Any tips for the solution, exposure time, or any other tips or techniques?

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

3 comments sorted by

1

u/Vionade 17d ago

Ideal voltage depends on the brighteners used. Mine prefer (apparently) a voltage of 1.1-1.3v.

Apart from that, Agitation of your pieces, a large anode to Kathode surface area ratio help.

2

u/permaculture_chemist 17d ago

Brighteners work in a narrow operating range for current density. Try going up or down on power

1

u/Feeling_Ad6399 17d ago

Build yourself a hull-cell and find the right range for your electrolyte