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Keep shoppingGlass Beads 107.1- Copper Electroforming
21 students
Glass Beads 107.1- Copper Electroforming
Learn how to Copper Electroform your lampwork glass beads.
Created byAnna Maria Schoenenberger
Last updated 8/2022
English
English [Auto],
What you'll learn
- The students will begin class with a short lecture on the science behind electroforming.
- The instructor will review the type of equipment and supplies they will need for the electroforming process. She will also show them set up of the equipment.
- The students will learn how to prepare their glass beads for electroforming including design considerations.
- The students will learn how to deburr, grind, and polish their beads. The instructor will also review patinas and coatings.
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Course content
7 sections • 11 lectures • 1h 29m total length
Requirements
- The student should have a work area already prepared with adequate ventilation.
- All artists creating this bead should have basic knowledge of lampwork safety precautions. Torch safety, glass handling skills, proper ventilation and using proper eyewear are all requirements needed to safely make this bead. All the materials, supplies and tools are available through lampwork glass suppliers and distributors. I also highly recommend using a kiln to properly anneal your bead after it is complete to ensure durability and strength.
Description
This class will be presented to show the student how to perform Copper Electroplating to glass beads to make beautiful designs. The class is intended for the beginning student and does not require a lot of experience. The class will start with an introduction and a presentation slide of the class Syllabus. The instructor will then conduct an overview of all the equipment and materials as prerequisites for the class
The first lecture will discuss some of the science of electroforming. The instructor will give a basic, bird's eye view of the electrochemical process so the student has a better understanding of the science behind electroforming.
Section 2 of the class will consist of an in-depth review of all the equipment, materials, tools and supplies. Safety equipment will be reviewed first along with the containers that can be used, the DC rectifier/power supply, the copper sulfate solution, the conductive paint, and the ancillary tools and supplies such as distilled water. Once the review is complete, the instructor will move into the second lecture of this section which is the electroforming cell equipment set-up. The instructor will demonstrate how to set up a small electroforming cell with 1 anode and a large electroforming cell with 2 anodes. She will also help the student understand how to connect their cables properly.
Section 3 of the class will be an in-depth study of Bead Preparation. The instructor will give the students some design ideas for bead shapes and configurations which will help with copper adhesion. She will also demonstrate some of the painting techniques including how to encapsulate the bead in a "copper cage" and the "belting" technique. The instructor will also show the students how they can add design elements with stringers and frit.
Section 4 is the actual electroforming process. The instructor will show the students how to place the beads into the copper sulfate bath, how to connect the cables to the DC rectifier and how the establish the proper amperage and voltage settings for the electroforming process.
Section 5 will demonstrate and discuss different finishing options once the electroforming process is complete. Cleaning, deburring, grinding, polishing and buffing will all be demonstrated. In addition. different patinas and coatings will be demonstrated as design embellishments.
Section 6 will demonstrate how to filter the used solution for reuse.
A short wrap up will conclude the class.
Who this course is for:
- Beginning electroforming artists.