The 6-volt battery has two prongs that make it easier to connect to the system, but you can use a battery of lower voltage. Alligator clips are insulated electrical wires that have metal clips as the ends used for connecting circuits together. The piece of copper is the source of ions that will be used to plate your metal item. Steel and nickel are two metals that can easily be plated with copper.
A mixture of vinegar and baking soda can be used as an acidic cleaner to scrub the surface clean.
Always maintain the ratio of 5:1. For example, if you need more than 5 cups, measure out 10 cups of water and add 2 cups of muriatic acid.
Remember to keep the ratio of 5:1 water to acid. The outside of the container will be warm because adding acid to water is exothermic (it creates heat). Stir with a glass or plastic stirrer because the acid will degrade a metal.
At this stage, it doesn’t matter which clip is connected to which terminal, just that a separate clip is attached to each one.
On a standard 6-volt battery, the positive terminal is the male side of the battery.
The negative side of a standard 6-volt battery is the female component. If you attach the positive clip to the metal, the electroplating will not work. Double check that you have the correct terminals attached.
Stir the solution during the plating process to get an even coat. Keep the two metal pieces at least an inch apart from each other to avoid getting burn spots where the copper accumulates too quickly.
The plating can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. If you have more metals to plate, you can connect the next metal to the clip, place it in the acid bath, and stir to coat.
A cheap and easy way to obtain 100% copper is to use a copper scrubbing sponge that can be found in the cleaning aisle of the supermarket. Alligator clips are electrical wires that have metal clips on each end used for connecting circuits. You can use a battery with a voltage as low as 1. 5 volts if you don’t have a lantern battery. Use a container large enough to submerge the metal that you’re trying to plate.
Combining vinegar and hydrogen peroxide makes peracetic acid which must be handled with caution. [8] X Research source
Wear gloves from this step on because the copper solution is toxic. Soak the copper until the solution turns a light blue. It is better for the solution to be of weak concentration, so remove the copper scrub before the solution gets too dark.
At this stage, it doesn’t matter which clip is connected to which terminal, as long as there is a separate clip attached to each one.
Clean the grease with a mild detergent such as dish soap. Scrub the metal surface with an acidic, abrasive cleaner. A 50-50 vinegar and baking soda solution works well to clean copper. [11] X Research source Rinse the surface well to remove any residue and pat dry with a paper towel. From this point on, handle the metal only with gloves on to avoid contaminating the surface.
You may need to move the clip during the plating process, so you get an even coat. If you attach the metal to be plated to the positive terminal, the electroplating won’t work. Simply switch the clips and the process will work.
To avoid burn spots (spots where the copper accumulates too quickly), keep the two metals at least one inch apart and keep the solution in constant motion.
Rinse the metal and set on a towel to dry.
