First attempt at copper electroplating

[Ian_425]

I have been watching some videos on electroplating. It is very practical to use on the section of the pick that will be inserted into the lock because it would come off very quickly, so I tried a handle. This first attempt doesn't look very good, there were a few things I had to learn along the way. The black section is just painted, the copper did not plate evenly there. I also applied a clear coat because of how easily copper oxidizes.

[Ian_425]

*it isn't very practical to use on the end you insert into the lock.

[billdeserthills]

I like the idea, I don't know how well electroplating will stand up to everyday use.
I have a 1905 S&W revolver that has been electroplated it looks like a really old pimp gun.
The body is silver and the cylinder is gold, I'm not sure why I bought it, but it sure is shiny

[GWiens2001]

We like shiny things here!

Copper would not last, but it would be unusual and decorative if coated to prevent tarnish, as the OP described.

Gordon

[Ian_425]

What I am going to try next is nickel electroplating. Apparently nickel has a hard time bonding to steel, so all of the videos I have watched first Dona coating of copper and then follow up by playing the copper with nickel. Not sure how that will hold up either, but I am going to find out once my nickel plates get here. Nickel won't have the same tarnish issues as copper, but at the same time, I don't know how durable the electronplaying will be.

[femurat]

That's an interesting experiment, even if I think that metal is not the best choice for a handle. I prefer plastic or wood or... bamboo! But that's just me
Also, there is a very well written thread about anodizing aluminium, dunno if it may be of your interest.

Cheers

[Jacob Morgan]

What I am going to try next is nickel electroplating. Apparently nickel has a hard time bonding to steel, so all of the videos I have watched first Dona coating of copper and then follow up by playing the copper with nickel. Not sure how that will hold up either, but I am going to find out once my nickel plates get here. Nickel won't have the same tarnish issues as copper, but at the same time, I don't know how durable the electronplaying will be.

There is an alternative to electroplating nickel, called electroless plating. Here is a kit for it: http://www.midwayusa.com/Product/119436/caswell-mini-electroless-nickel-plating-kit . It is supposed to be easier to get good results than with electroplating. Might be more expensive than you would like, but maybe it would give you some ideas on alternatives in case you are interested. Before stainless steel and plastic guns became common gunsmiths used to nickel plate guns to make them more rust-resistant. The book Gunsmith Kinks II by Brownell has a 40 page section on nickel plating.

[Ian_425]

Yeah I have seen the electroless stuff before in my firearms catalogs. If I ever get really serious into it, I would probably do something like that, but electroplating works pretty well just messing around with it. I already have everything I need for electroplating both copper and nickel, so all it costs me is time.