AztecWarrior

Once the sanding was complete, I moved on to painting.

This is arguably the most critical step in the entire process. If you get it wrong, the electroplating can fail entirely or even delaminate from the print. Considering I only had one acceptable print and no time for a second attempt, there wasn't much room for error.

Before applying anything, I made sure the model was completely free of dust and oils left behind from sanding. For this, I use an industrial degreaser to prepare the surface for what I suppose could be called a primer, though in reality it's simply a very thin layer of conductive copper paint.

For this step, I use my Gaahleri Ace Series GHAC-Swallowtail SD airbrush fitted with a 0.5 mm nozzle. I particularly enjoy its ergonomic design. It gives me excellent control over the spray pattern, and during longer sessions, my fingers definitely appreciate the comfort.

Even with a 0.5 mm nozzle, conductive paints tend to be considerably thicker than traditional paints. To achieve proper flow, I dilute the mixture with acetone. Finding the right balance is essential. These paints are extremely unforgiving. Add too little acetone and the airbrush struggles. Add too much, or make one wrong adjustment, and the paint atomizes into a fine powder that refuses to adhere to the resin altogether.

It's one of those steps where experience helps, but luck still likes to have a say.

In the next update, I'll share the electroplating process itself. Until then, please enjoy a photo of the peacocks currently roaming the resort where I'm writing these updates from. 🦚

#thanks