Re: copper plated tungsten rods (fwd)

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2007 20:33:39 -0400
From: Scott Bogard <teslas-intern@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: copper plated tungsten rods (fwd)

The mixture I use to copper plate is a little more elaborate, but I have 
found it works extremely well for many metals. 20 parts water, 7-10 parts 
copper sulfate, 2-4 parts sulfuric acid (depending on strength), 1 part 
ammonia, 1-2 parts sodium carbonate.  For a power supply I use a variable 
voltage DC power supply purchased at radio shack, and set it at 6 volts for 
a few hours (more or less voltage gives dendritic growth ("trees") or poor 
adhesion, time determines plating thickness).  This gives me an excellent 
surface finish, that is durable and holds a polished finish very well.  The 
thing I was concerned about is weather it would stick to tungsten (it does 
evidently) and weather it would be worth my trouble performance wise.  If I 
could find a solution that would stick to steel bolts without messing up the 
threads, I could save a lot of money on hardware!  I can also silver plate 
stuff pretty well, without using toxic cyanide, but I keep that formula a 
secret!
Scott Bogard.


>From: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
>To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: Re: copper plated tungsten rods (fwd)
>Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2007 17:30:38 -0600 (MDT)
>
>
>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2007 11:39:32 -0700 (PDT)
>From: Mike <megavolts61@xxxxxxxxx>
>To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
>Subject: Re: copper plated tungsten rods (fwd)
>
>Hi Scott,
>      Copper plating tungsten is very simple actually.  I've done a lot of 
>plating myself.  All ya have to do is electropolish the tungsten( I taped 
>off the ends of the rods, cuz I figured there was no point in plating them) 
>and use a basic copper electrolyte solution.  I think I used about 50g/L 
>copper sulfate and about the same of sulfuric acid.  I am sure one could 
>optimize that...but for a one shot deal...why bother?   I used a D cell 
>battery and a variable resistor as the power source....very crude, but 
>effective
>   Mike
>
>
>
>   I figured the gap would blow the plating off the tip, But I use a
>propeller
>style gap, which means I have 7 inches of 1/8 tungsten rod.  Still
>probably
>negligible, I figure If I use an acetylene torch to melt some copper,
>it
>will stick nicely to the heated rod, just like steel does (although
>this is
>bad for TIG welding).  Or I could electroplate the rod, if that would
>work
>for tungsten (I have extensive experimental copper, zinc and silver
>electroplating experience, I can get most anything to stick to most
>anything, assuming I have pure samples of both metals).  Just musing.
>Scott Bogard
>
>
>---------------------------------
>Boardwalk for $500? In 2007? Ha!
>Play Monopoly Here and Now (it's updated for today's economy) at Yahoo! 
>Games.
>
>

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