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Posted by SteveB on May 1, 2008, 3:45 am
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Today, a friend called me who was doing a project. They had a copper coated
steel rod about 5/8" dia. that was to be used as a ground rod for
electrical. They had no means of bending it, as it had to make a couple of
three doglegs to get around concrete. I told him that heating it would melt
the copper, and did not know if the inspector would pass it with the copper
gone. He said that was what the inspector told him to do. We'll see. If
it works, okay, if it doesn't, I'll set up a jig and bend it cold.
Now to the point. As I heated the copper, I noticed a beautiful color
change. Like peacock colors. Would it be possible to dissolve copper into
a solution, possibly using acid or electrolysis, then have the copper be
deposited on metal sheeting so that it could be heated again to get the
iridescent hues?
I've read a lot about electrolytic removal of rust, and it seems pretty
straightforward. This would be (?) a two step process. I'm going to Google
up on it. Anyone ever try it?
Steve
--
"...the man who really counts in the world is the doer, not the mere
critic-the man who actually does the work, even if roughly and imperfectly,
not the man who only talks or writes about how it ought to be done."
Theodore Roosevelt 1891
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Posted by Vaughn Simon on May 1, 2008, 6:20 am
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> Today, a friend called me who was doing a project. They had a copper coated
> steel rod about 5/8" dia. that was to be used as a ground rod for electrical.
> They had no means of bending it, as it had to make a couple of three doglegs
> to get around concrete.
Usually done right on the job with a 1/2" "hickey bender". That is a manual
bender for 1/2" rigid conduit. Most construction electricians will have one on
their truck somewhere.
Vaughn
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Posted by SteveB on May 2, 2008, 3:20 am
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>
>> Today, a friend called me who was doing a project. They had a copper
>> coated steel rod about 5/8" dia. that was to be used as a ground rod for
>> electrical. They had no means of bending it, as it had to make a couple
>> of three doglegs to get around concrete.
>
> Usually done right on the job with a 1/2" "hickey bender". That is a
> manual bender for 1/2" rigid conduit. Most construction electricians will
> have one on their truck somewhere.
>
> Vaughn
Saw a used one today at the pawn shop for $10. Is that a good price?
Looked new.
Steve
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Posted by Jim on May 1, 2008, 9:02 am
Please log in for more thread options > I've read a lot about electrolytic removal of rust, and it seems pretty
> straightforward. This would be (?) a two step process. I'm going to
> Google up on it. Anyone ever try it?
>
> Steve
You would need a Solution 20-25% of Hydrofluoric acid (Nasty Stuff) 50%
Nitric acid, and 20-40 Volt, 1 Amp power supply.
Depending on time and current, you can get a nice copper coating on any
surface.
Google Hydrofluoric acid before you even try it. Not something you want to
get on any part of your body.
As Simon says, go with cold forming.
Jim
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Posted by Grant Erwin on May 1, 2008, 9:46 am
Please log in for more thread options SteveB wrote:
> Today, a friend called me who was doing a project. They had a copper coated
> steel rod about 5/8" dia. that was to be used as a ground rod for
> electrical. They had no means of bending it, as it had to make a couple of
> three doglegs to get around concrete. I told him that heating it would melt
> the copper, and did not know if the inspector would pass it with the copper
> gone. He said that was what the inspector told him to do. We'll see. If
> it works, okay, if it doesn't, I'll set up a jig and bend it cold.
>
> Now to the point. As I heated the copper, I noticed a beautiful color
> change. Like peacock colors. Would it be possible to dissolve copper into
> a solution, possibly using acid or electrolysis, then have the copper be
> deposited on metal sheeting so that it could be heated again to get the
> iridescent hues?
>
> I've read a lot about electrolytic removal of rust, and it seems pretty
> straightforward. This would be (?) a two step process. I'm going to Google
> up on it. Anyone ever try it?
>
> Steve
>
It is trivial to get a strike coating of copper on steel. Just put the steel
into some copper sulfate (sulphate if you're British).
Grant
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> steel rod about 5/8" dia. that was to be used as a ground rod for electrical.
> They had no means of bending it, as it had to make a couple of three doglegs
> to get around concrete.