The Ultimate Guide to Copper Electroforming

Name: The Ultimate Guide to Copper Electroforming
Rating: 4.7 (48 reviews)

Beginners guide to electroforming with copper and getting the best and repeatable results

Created byDavid Hanson

Last updated 3/2022

English

What you'll learn

At the end of the course, students will be able to apply what they have learnt to create amazing and unique pieces of copper electroformed art or jewellery.
At the end of the course students will be able to easily troubleshoot problems; if problems arise they will be able to know the causes and the ways to fix them.
At the end of the course, students will be able to set up and maintain an electroforming system of their own from scratch.
At the end of the course, students will gain Mastery of electroforming!

Course content

9 sections • 35 lectures • 2h 4m total length

Introduction to the Course1:32
An introduction into the course describing what you will learn, the goals and outcomes you will have achieved once you complete the course and an introduction to me!
What is Electroforming?1:40
So what is electroforming? Well, in this lecture I will describe the basic scientific principles and show you some examples as well as cover the basic nomenclature.
Assignment: Q&A Section2:44
The Q&A section is a super valuable part of Udemy, by searching for questions or posting your own, you will be able to gain quick feedback and help improve your electroforming practice. In this activity you will post a new question, introducing yourself and your goals for the course.
Tools Required0:48
There are some really essential tools that you need when you first start electroforming, and there are some more pieces of equipment that aren't necessary but will definitely help the further into your electroforming practice you get. I have added a checklist of the essentials and advanced accessories for your reference.

Safety Basics1:37
Safety is the most important aspect of electroforming. There are some harmful chemicals involved and the last thing I would want is someone to get hurt. Make sure to follow the safety advice and always protect yourself. A few extra seconds putting on some gloves, goggles and dust mask are better than the alternative.
PPE: Gloves1:11
PPE or personal protective equipment are fundamental pieces of safety equipment that you need. This lecture covers the types of gloves you can use for electroforming and when to use them.
PPE - Goggles0:46
PPE or personal protective equipment are fundamental pieces of safety equipment that you need. This lecture covers the types of goggles you can use for electroforming and when to use them.
PPE - Masks0:41
PPE or personal protective equipment are fundamental pieces of safety equipment that you need. This lecture covers the types of masks you can use for electroforming and when to use them.
Assignment: Creating a Safe Environment for Electroforming2:14
This assignment will help you to think about and setup a safe space for electroforming.

Example Electroforming Systems1:41
In this lecture I will show you our medium scale electroforming system that we use for our face to face workshops, small and simple systems and very small electroforming systems.
Copper Electroforming Electrolye Chemicals Needed1:06
Here is a list of the chemicals and materials you will need to create your own electroforming electrolyte.
Mixing Chemicals3:11
In this lecture, I will show you how to safely mix your own electrolyte chemicals.
Hanging the Anodes6:40
Hanging the anodes sounds like it can be something quite simple but there are a few common problems you should avoid.
Wiring the Circuit4:02
In this lecture I will guide you through the basics of circuit setup.
Installing Tank Accessories3:45
There are a few extra tank accessories that were covered in lecture 4. In this lecture I will show you how to set them up and get your electroforming system ready for electroforming!

Importance of Proper Pre-electroforming Part Preparation4:53
Without care and attention in this step of the electroforming process, parts can be ruined and the quality of electroforming results reduced. I will talk about the steps needed and the different problems that can occur.
Does it Need Sealing?
The Need for Sealing15:33
As you may have found out from the quiz above, some items may or may not need to be sealed. This lecture will go into more depth on sealing items prior to painting and electroforming.
Conductive Paints8:14
There are lots and lots and lots of conductive paints available on the market. In this lecture I will cover the 3 of the main types of paint, and two interesting conductive materials that can be used to achieve some unique results.
Painting Before Electroforming6:09
Painting with conductive paints are integral to the process. This lecture will cover the basics of applying the paint and a few things to watch out for when using each type of paint.

Current Density5:39
Current density is vital in understanding how copper is deposited onto an item. In this lecture I will go through the basics of current density using simple analogies and visual aids to help give you a practical knowledge.
Assignment: Current Density Drawing Practice0:41
In this assignment, you will practice what you have learned so far about current density and put that into practice by visualising different objects in 2D in the tank and drawing where the most deposit will be.
Item Orientation10:10
This lecture will use what you have learnt about current density and apply it to how you should orientate your items within your electroforming tank.
Wiring Items for Electroforming5:47
There are many ways of hanging an item in the electroforming tank. This lecture will cover some basic ways of making sure your item is part of the circuit and properly connected.
Pre-Electroforming Checks2:46
Right before you put items into the electroforming tank, there are a few checks and adjustments you might need to make to ensure the best possible results.

Power On!0:49
It's time to turn the power on!
Continuous Checks During Electroforming8:22
This lecture will cover the things you need to watch out for during the hours of electroforming.
Electroforming Results5:17
In this lecture we inspect the final results!
Rinsing2:18
Rinsing is a really important part of the electroforming process. This lecture will cover some of the best rinsing practices as well as some of the more common problems that can occur.

Post-Electroforming Processes1:24
There are many different things you can do once you items have been coated in copper. This lecture will give an outline of different methods of achieving different copper finishes.
Sealing0:42
Nope, this isn’t a repeat of a lecture, this is a lecture on sealing items once they have been electroformed. This is a vital step that will be discussed.
Patination - Coloured Patinas3:41
A quick search for copper patina will bring up a vast array of different recipes. In this lecture we won’t discuss patina chemicals, rather, the process of applying them and achieving desired colours.
Electroplating and Brush Plating3:27
Once covered with copper, your item can be treated in the exact same way as a metal. With this in mind, there are a lot of different other metals you can cover your items with. This lecture will talk through different electroplating metals, such as silver, and the process of brush plating as a cost-effective finishing method.

Requirements

Students do not need to know any information of have any prior knowledge to electroforming before starting this course.
Students do not need to have any pieces of equipment for electroforming, part of the course will cover the basics you need to setup an electroforming system.

Description

Welcome to the Ultimate Guide to Copper Electroforming. A beginners guides to electroforming with copper and getting the best results.

What is electroforming?
Electroforming is the covering of a non-conductive item with metal through the use on an electrolysis cell.

This is the sciencey bit - don't worry if it's too complicated, you will learn all about it during the course.
The scientific principle behind electroforming is the same as electroplating, the deposition of a metal layer on a base material, referred to as the work, using direct current through a solution called an electrolyte. Copper is the most commonly electroformed metal for enthusiasts and jewellery makers. This is due to the cost effectiveness of copper and the ease of electrodeposition. Copper has a high plating efficiency and a high throwing power, meaning small pits and scratches will be filled easily and levelled well. Copper metal is also inert in other plating solutions, making it ideal for the first electroformed layer. Copper also has a very high conductivity, both thermal and electrical. These properties coupled with its mechanical properties make it an excellent metal for a base layer.

What is the Ultimate Guide to Copper Electroforming?
This guide is a learn-anywhere video course where you learn how to electroform your own items to create unique art pieces or jewellery. This course is hand crafted to deliver all of the basic concepts of electroforming, the safety aspects, setting up an electroforming system, conductive paints, troublshooting and the whole process in an easy to follow format. It is designed with the complete beginner in mind, however, there are a huge number of tips and tricks for those who have already been electroforming for some time.

Clear, Easy to Understand Lessons
Crystal clear in fact. Learning electroforming and how to complete the process effectively means having information presented in a logical and coherent way. The course is modular by design, easy to grasp, and allows you to learn in a well paced, structured way. Engage in the course chronologically, then revise each module at your leisure.

What You'll Learn

Safety and the importance of being safe
The basic electroforming system and the items you will need
How to create your own electroforming system
The need for sealing objects before painting
The different types of conductive paint and when/how to use them
Current density, how it affects your items and how to orientate them in the tank
The important operating conditions of copper electrolyte
How to check items during electroforming
How to recognise, fix and prevent problems
Further processes that can be applied to electroformed items

Are there any course requirements or prerequisites?
To start with, the only thing you would need is a pen/pencil and paper (or the digital equivalent). I would recommend watching the course through once to absorb as much information as possible, then, buy some supplies and follow the course again. This time, follow each section step-by-step.

I can't wait to share electroforming with you!

Who this course is for:

People who are interested in learning how to electroform at home, and how to do it safely and effectively by achieving repeatable results.
This course if for beginners to electroforming. Some of the content will be useful for intermediate to advanced electroformers but the bulk of the content is presented in a way that makes it easier for complete beginners.

The Ultimate Guide to Copper Electroforming

What you'll learn

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Course content

Introduction4 lectures • 7min

Safety5 lectures • 6min

Electroforming Setup6 lectures • 20min

Sealing and Painting4 lectures • 35min

Pre-Electroforming5 lectures • 25min

Electroforming Process4 lectures • 17min

Troubleshooting1 lecture • 2min

Post-Electroforming4 lectures • 9min

Conclusion2 lectures • 3min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: