copper plating

["Metlicka Marc" <mystuffs-at-orwell-dot-net> (by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>)]

hi all,
this is to anyone that has contemplated getting a conductive surface on
a non conductive surface, i.e.. on glass or plastic.(especialy towards
the thread on using al. powder in a glass cap instead of salt water). i
have been trying different copper plating processes to try to get a
conductive coating on my "party cup caps".
these cups i am using are styrene, i have been getting relatively good
results plating them by using a copper sulfate bath up to within an inch
of the top of the cup on the out side, and filling the cup to the same
level of the sulfate with salt water.
i then hooked up a 30vdc power supply, the negative clipped to a piece
of copper tubing and immersed in the sulfate bath, then the positive
placed into the saltwater inside the cup.
i now have a 35uf cap placed across the two.
this is depositing a copper film on the outside of the cup, but i think
i need to play with the voltages and capacitance more to get an even
film, (a little splotchy at this time. and takes a long time). i think
if i can get this process down a little more solidly there would be no
reason you couldn't plate both sides of a glass or plastic jug.
i would appreciate any comments on this, and copper sulfate is used to
kill pond weeds if any one would want to further this experiment along
with me..
thank you         marc