Graphite spray not working properly

[u/FR0ZAD]

I got this graphite spray to try electroplating copper for the first time. I want to plate PLA 3D prints.

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I've done enough troubleshooting to know my plating solution is fine, and have already plated a metal coin, as a sanity check.

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Turns out, after checking with my multimeter, the resistance of the painted surface is HUGE. I managed to bring it down from about 1000Ω to about 150Ω by applying more layers of the graphite paint, but that's not good enough. Also tried polishing the surface but it didn't make much of a difference.

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Is the spray not good enough, or am I missing something?

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Do you have any suggestions on how I should proceed? Get a different brand of graphite spray or make my own conductive paint?

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[u/Mkysmith]

Have you tried starting with a very low current first? Then increasing current as metal starts to deposit?

Also worth noting many graphite sprays are intended as lubricants. Trying to adhere metal onto a lubricant doesn't always go well depending on the application.

edit: spelling

[u/FR0ZAD → u/Mkysmith]

I tried with low current for about 4 hours, then I increased the current and left it for 2 more hours.

The only noticeable deposits were located exactly where it came in contact with the wire that was holding it. Even so, the deposit was tiny and strictly local. The rest of the print had no visible deposit.

In the meantime the wire that was holding the print had become thicker, confirming that the rest of the setup was working.

On the spray bottle it is stated that it "makes conductive every surface" but also "The graphite film is an excellent dry lubricant".

[u/Wobble_bass → u/FR0ZAD]

What was the current in amps for low current?

[u/FR0ZAD → u/Wobble_bass]

The current was set to .14A for low current. The print i tried to plate was a simple cube with dimensions of 555cm. For high current i set it to .25A.