copper electroplating question

[DARTH SABER]

Ive been doing some research on copper electroplating and Im getting mixed chemical info from different sites.

So far Ive run across sites say -

- use white vinegar and salt

- use liquid copper sulfate and salt.

- use crystal copper sulfate, with water and salt.

- use copper sulfate sulphric acid

-A bunch of other chemicals/acid Ive never even heard of.


And one site even showed a time lapse copper plating just using water/vinegar and no electrical current.


So which one of these is correct?

Also, Ive heard some people complain that certain methods don't adhere the copper to the metal correctly and it eventually comes off...How do I prevent this?


Thanks,

DS

 

[swgeek]

Might want to try http://www.caswellplating.com They have a lot of different products and are usually good about answering questions.

 

[tim]

The few times that I've done it, I've just placed the item to be plated and a sacrificial copper electrode in vinegar and applied a voltage to start the reaction. There are actually several ways of electoplating, so several of the methods you've found will probably work.