how to preserve copper plates?

jarthel · 18th July 2007, 08:26 AM

There are a lot of projects out there where the top cover of the wood chassis uses copper plates.

How do you prevent the copper plate from oxidizing? maybe it requires regular wiping. then again only the top portion can be wipe.

thank you.

john · 18th July 2007, 08:51 AM

You can delay the oxidation process of copper plates by applying clear gloss laquer, chrome, nickel,silver... plating, powder coating and painting.

I have used copper plates on my DIY amps which were polished and laquered, chrome plated and silver plated. The polished and lacquered plates looks good with the black-ash hard wood panel.

As time goes by, tarnish can be seen on some areas of the plate after a few months. Humidity of the listening room can also hasten the tarnishing of the copper plate. Heat generated by the amps components is also a factor.

You can delay the oxidation process on the copper plates, but it cannot be prevented.

John

DigitalJunkie · 18th July 2007, 08:51 AM

On a small 1-tube line amp I built,I used double sided PCB soldered together for the chassis..after a couple months,I polished it up and sprayed it with some clear spray paint stuff to protect it.
Still looks shiny to this day,sitting all alone in the junk box.

AndrewT · 18th July 2007, 09:13 AM

send them away to be polished and gold plated

Original Burnedfingers · 18th July 2007, 10:49 AM

Quote:

How do you prevent the copper plate from oxidizing?

I used a copper plate when I built my Aikido line stage a few years back. I finished it with a light grain finish and sprayed it with clear laquer. It still looks the same as when I put it together.

Colt45 · 18th July 2007, 11:14 AM

Clear lacquer should work well.

kevinkr · 19th July 2007, 12:30 AM

I built a bunch of copper chassis 300B amplifiers around the turn of the decade, and the last time I saw one a couple of years ago the copper was still unoxidized. They were buffed and then subjected to a 3M clear powder coat which even with the baking takes weeks to fully harden, but once hard is extremely durable.

soulmerchant · 19th July 2007, 06:35 AM

I got fed up and just gave my last one a silver hammerstone coat...

jarthel · 19th July 2007, 11:36 PM

thank you

valveluver · 20th July 2007, 09:16 PM

Try "BRASSO" brand polish. It works in bug copper lugs.

18th July 2007, 08:26 AM	#1
jarthel diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: somewhere in Australia	how to preserve copper plates? There are a lot of projects out there where the top cover of the wood chassis uses copper plates. How do you prevent the copper plate from oxidizing? maybe it requires regular wiping. then again only the top portion can be wipe. thank you.

18th July 2007, 08:51 AM	#2
john diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: pasay city	how to preserve copper plates? You can delay the oxidation process of copper plates by applying clear gloss laquer, chrome, nickel,silver... plating, powder coating and painting. I have used copper plates on my DIY amps which were polished and laquered, chrome plated and silver plated. The polished and lacquered plates looks good with the black-ash hard wood panel. As time goes by, tarnish can be seen on some areas of the plate after a few months. Humidity of the listening room can also hasten the tarnishing of the copper plate. Heat generated by the amps components is also a factor. You can delay the oxidation process on the copper plates, but it cannot be prevented. John

18th July 2007, 09:13 AM	#4
AndrewT diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Scottish Borders	send them away to be polished and gold plated __________________ regards Andrew T.

19th July 2007, 12:30 AM	#7
kevinkr diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Blog Entries: 6	I built a bunch of copper chassis 300B amplifiers around the turn of the decade, and the last time I saw one a couple of years ago the copper was still unoxidized. They were buffed and then subjected to a 3M clear powder coat which even with the baking takes weeks to fully harden, but once hard is extremely durable. __________________ www.kta-hifi.net

20th July 2007, 09:16 PM	#10
valveluver diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: florida	Copper preservation Try "BRASSO" brand polish. It works in bug copper lugs.

18th July 2007, 08:51 AM	#3
DigitalJunkie diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Portland,Oregon Blog Entries: 4	On a small 1-tube line amp I built,I used double sided PCB soldered together for the chassis..after a couple months,I polished it up and sprayed it with some clear spray paint stuff to protect it. Still looks shiny to this day,sitting all alone in the junk box.

18th July 2007, 11:14 AM	#6
Colt45 diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Canada	Clear lacquer should work well.

19th July 2007, 11:36 PM	#9
jarthel diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: somewhere in Australia	thank you

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