Copper Electroforming - An in-depth look into home copper electroforming 
 
An eBook published by Gateros Plating.
 
This ebook comes from the collection of our experience, experiments and research into copper electroforming. It is a more detailed ebook that begins with the underpinning science of the process and builds from there to explain the different finishes and effects that can be achieved.
 
What is electroforming?
Electroforming is the covering of a non-conductive item with metal through the use on an electrolysis cell. 
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 this eBook?
This is a PDF companion to your electroforming journey. It is a guide that will help you learn how to electroform your own items to create unique art pieces or jewellery. This ebook 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 has been written and is aimed at people who are already familiar with the basics of electroforming. 
 
Clear and Easy to Understand
Crystal clear in fact. Learning electroforming and how to complete the process effectively means having information presented in a logical and coherent way. The ebook is modular by design, easy to grasp, and allows you to learn in a well paced, structured way. Engage in the ebook chronologically, both before and during your electroforming experiments. 
 
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 requirements or prerequisites before electroforming?
To start with, the only thing you would need is a pen/pencil and paper (or the digital equivalent). I would recommend reading the ebook through once to absorb as much information as possible, then, buy some supplies and read it through again. This time, follow each section using it as a guide.