r/electroforming

I've been trying to learn electroforming, experimenting by plating some 3d-printed models.

People here advised against graphite DIY and suggested that I buy some real conductive paint, so I splashed out and spent $70 on a can of MG-chemicals 843AR, silver-coated copper. The resistance was between 0 and 15 ohms as measured across any two points. I threw it in the plating mix, and the next day you see the results in the photo: approx 50% splotches of copper and completely naked spots elsewhere..

Previously I did some DIY with graphite powder and a solvent, which you can see in the second picture, it turned out OK although it took forever for the plating to spread over all the graphite.

Bath is pretty normal: 225 g/L copper sulfate, 7.5% sulfuric acid, 50mg/L NaCl, a bit of glycerine and Thiourea. Was working fine with graphite coating, although a bit slow.

Is there perhaps a nuanced way to use the the professional paint that I have missed?

I think I finally got this sorted out no it's time to work on post processing and nickel and silver

This is my first real success with a shiny copper layer and it perfectly formed to the item and it really shows every lazy step that I skipped. But it turned out I just needed to switch out the acid once I got my process figured out

So my two anodes got absolutely eaten overnight the thickness if I had to guess is 1mm
My solution is a sulfuric acid based pre made. (Glossy copper electrolyte)
The anode is was absolutely fine last night

Total time I around 15 hours
At 0.9v -0.1 v and 0.5 A-0. 14 A
Temperature standard at 37c and feel to around 14c doing the night
My pieces feel good and sturdy tho they’re salmon colored
I just filtered my solution and there isn’t as much sludge as I was expecting.
Tho the anode was covered in black sludge(?)

Is this just the normal life spand for anodes? Or is something going on? If so Where did I go wrong and what can I do in the future?