On Dec 11, 2012, Gerardo <[email protected]> asked > Do you think it's possible to use gold or silver plating in an origami > model? Can it be done on a paper folded model or would it have to be folded > in some other material? Has anyone tried to do this? > and Ilan Garibi <[email protected]> answered
> I tried that with Elephant Hide, and simple bronze coating in a process > called Electroforming. Its doable, expensive and the main problem is that > you put the model into a liquid - the paper absorb it and start to deform > because of that. I found no solution to this problem yet. > This can work if you start with metal foil rather than paper. Ilan, your stuff would look spectacular if made from the thick "Pesach" aluminum foil specially available to us in Israel (100 microns is my preferred thickness for 'single-layered' origami, but 50 microns is easier to work), then electroplated in fancier metals. Note that this can't be done in one's bathtub, since for an even finish the item needs to be thoroughly degreased first (and origami finger-work adds a lot of grease), then dipped in acid, then zincated. Usually a copper layer is added and other metal layers added to that. You can also save a step by starting with copper foil, but I've had trouble finding exactly the right thickness locally to work with. Write me offline if interested in pursuing this Saadya
