Instructions
This was my first electroform project and it turned out great, I think.
I used the latex gloves provided with the kit throughout this process. . .
Superglue a closed jump ring to the 2 topped acorn stem, gap side facing stem.
Seal the acorns by painting a thin coat of acrylic sealer over them - make sure not to miss any spots.
Let dry.
Add a second coat of acrylic sealer
Let dry.
Paint a thin coat of graphic conductive paint over the acorn tops - make sure not to miss any spots.
Let dry.
Place the copper coil in the beaker, bending the tip so that it sticks above the beaker.
Pour the electroforming solution into the beaker, covering the coil - except for the bit that's sticking up.
Wrap the acorn stems with the copper wire and slide the copper wire in between the chopsticks so that the acorn stems are "dangling" from the chopsticks.
place the chopsticks over the beaker - so that the acorn tops are suspended in the electroforming solution.
Make sure that acorn tops do not touch the copper coil. Add reinforcement wire if the acorns begin to float to the top.
Clip the red wire from the controller onto copper coil that is sticking from the top of the beaker.
Clip the black wire from the controller onto the wire that is sticking out from the chopsticks.
Set the controller to medium and plug it in.
Occasionally unplug the controller and check the status of the plating. If the plating is not yet complete - replace the acorns into the solution and plug the controller back in.
I would occasionally increase or decrease the settings depending on how the tops looked. I followed the directions included with the kit when making my decision.
Once the tops were plated to my liking, I unplugged the controller and rinsed them with distilled water.
Make them into earrings and a necklace (photo not yet available):
Cut the stem off the single acorns,
Drill a hole where the stem was (being careful when applying pressure; using files or changing angles when necessary).
File away any unwanted copper burs or wires that may have stuck to the tops during the electroforming process.
Apply a patina to all items; rinse & polish as desired.
Do the following for each earring:
Using 24 gauge wire create a loop for connecting a bead to.
String the acorn top onto the wire and make an ear hook.
Ball the end of 2 16 gauge wires using a torch.
String a bead onto the wire and wrap the bead onto the ear hook loop located inside the acorn top.
For the necklace - I ran a chain through the jump ring that was super glued to the acorn top prior to electroforming.
This was my first electroform project and it turned out great, I think.
I used the latex gloves provided with the kit throughout this process. . .
Superglue a closed jump ring to the 2 topped acorn stem, gap side facing stem.
Seal the acorns by painting a thin coat of acrylic sealer over them - make sure not to miss any spots.
Let dry.
Add a second coat ...
Read full instructions »
Difficulty:
Category: Jewelry
Type of item: Accessory
For: Women
Style: Cute,
Funky,
Outdoorsy,
Whimsical
Materials
1 acorn top; with 2 tops on 1 stem.
2 acorn tops
Super glue
Copper Jump Ring
Electroform materials:
E3 Electroform electronic controller with power supply
Acrylic sealer
Small paintbrush for sealer and conductive paint
Beaker
Copper anode-wrapped coil
2 gauges copper wire
E3 Graphic Conductive Paint
Electroforming solution for copper
Electroforming brightener
Wood chopsticks
Filter and rubber gloves
Printed instructions
What was your inspiration?
Acorn Tops are awesome.
What are you most proud of?
Oh, the earrings. They're really neat.
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