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Electroplating
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From: RODERICK MAXWELL [SMTP:tank-at-magnolia-dot-net]
Sent: Thursday, August 20, 1998 8:58 AM
To: Tesla List
Subject: Re: Electroplating
Tesla List wrote:
>
> ----------
> From: RWB355-at-aol-dot-com [SMTP:RWB355-at-aol-dot-com]
> Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 1998 3:59 PM
> To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> Subject: Re: Electroplating
>
> Hi Roderick,
>
> If you really want to silver plate wood via electoplating, you are going to
> need a lot more than just a silver-ion chemical. The surface to be plated has
> to be really, really clean. As wood is not conductive you have to give the
> wood a conductive surface, which means coating it with graphite (e.g). If you
> want a top notch job this coating has to have a uniform thickness all around.
> Your next problem is getting the silver coating even. I donīt know of any
> "thumb rules" that could tell you need so and so long in the bath with so and
> so amps, etc. The toroid would need to be rotated continusely for a uniform
> coating. After electroplating you will need to polish the surface smooth as
> EPing doesnīt give you a shiny apperance on itīs own. Electroplating is simply
> "an art of its own".
>
> Even if you get this done perfectly, you have another problem: silver
> tarnishes pretty quickly in air and under ozone and electron bomardment this
> is even more true. So you will have to coat it with something.
>
> To be truthful, all in all, this is work not really worth doing and you donīt
> need to buy a commercial toroid, either. Make it yourself. You can use just
> about anything: Dryer ducts, metal elbows, alum. vent ducting, wrap your wood
> in aluminum foil etc. The list of possibilties is endless.
>
> What would look pretty neat is a toroid from some ss or aluminum elbows
> welded together with a circular disk in the middle to attach it to your tc and
> make the electrical connection. After welding you can smooth out the welds
> with an angle grinder and polish it up with fine sandpaper and steel wool, so
> that you donīt have any sharp edges that would bleed off your charge
> preliminarily. Of course you must be able to weld thin stainless or thin
> aluminum. Your best bet would be a Tig welder. If you donīt have one, a
> welding shop should be able to do this for small $$.
>
> Hope this helps,
> Reinhard
I already have several aluminum drier duct toruses. I'm looking for
something that looks PERFECT. I guess I've seen to many of those old
books on old time scientific instruments, and the type of workmanship
they put into them. I have already ordered a book on wood turning for
phase one of this project. By the way I think I'll Nickel plate it
instead of silver. The process seems easier and less expensive.
Frankensteins Helper
Max