Marking out fluid

Here’s another method for preparing (especially) steel surfaces for marking out. It could be a bit more cumbersome for larger parts, but should provide a better build-up of copper.

Sam

www.csiro.au/helix/sciencemail/activities/CopperCoat.html

Hi Ian,

I’ve no experience of the various (metal or other) systems/combinations being used for soldering iron copper tips.

But, like Mr Olsen in cold, wet Auckland, I feel sure that it would be easier and quicker to make a tip from solid copper, rather than via electro-deposition. No doubt our electrical engineers amongst us will explain how much time and current would be required for a reasonable thickness of copper to be deposited. I imagine too, that some scraps of copper with lots of surface area on the other electrode would be important.

I would now like to diversify even further from marking out fluids by reminding earlier ME readers of the idea once published of making a copper manifold for a four cylinder IC engine. The chap concerned made a model for the inside shape and sizes of the finished article and, priming it with an electrically conductive coating, applied sufficient current and time to cover the model with a respectable layer of copper. He was then obliged to remove the core model, similar in respects to the lost-wax process. I can’t remember what he used for the core material.

Regards,

Sam in cold, wet Melbourne.