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Author Topic: Etching without acid totorial.  (Read 12346 times)

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Offline Spitfire

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Etching without acid totorial.
« on: November 10, 2015, 12:12:16 AM »
Hey guys,

I have seen many people go one about acid etching and not doing it because they need this.
I have done much research on this and I have come up with a solution.
salt water etching!!!!
All you need it salt, water, a plastic tub, and a way to give electricity to it.
This is great for me since I do not want to wait for shipping time for it to arrive here.
Process is below and very easy:

To prepare the bath;
So get a bit large enough to hold the part you want to etch.
then fill it amount with water so it would cover your part.
add enough salt to the water so that it does no longer dissolve ( super saturate it )
This is to create a liquid that conducts electricity.
You want to do this outside so the fumes to no gather.
ones you have done this you need 2 or 3 pieces of metal that go across the top of the bin.
This is to hang the electrodes.


Now on the preparing the item.
Firstly you need to create the design ( this is the longest and most excruciating part if you do not have a laser printer and photo paper to make a resistant.)
So what I did was fold a piece of paper in half and use a light table.
I made one half of the design and then copy it on the other half by seeing it through the paper on the light table.
Next you have to make the resistant.
I use some electric tape and some transparent plastic.
I then lay a layer over layer of electric tape, I use white EL tape ( so they cover each others edges )
Make it a large enough area so that it is large enough to put the design on.
Then use again the light table and tape the plastic to the paper over the design.
Then copy the design to the el tape with some pen or a thin permanent marker
then ones this is finished make sure the surface you want to eth is clean and sanded and if possible cleaned with acetone.
then take the tape off the plastic without stretching it or undoing the layers of tape.
Make sure your fingers are clean!!!!!!
then carefully apply it to the metal.
make sure there are no air bubbles.
tape up all other surfaces that you do not want to be etched and make sure they are water tight.
I have also heard of some permanent markers that work as a resistant but I have not tried that yet.

now you want to find a way to make is so the
electrode can touch the metal but not on the etching part.
I make a small place of bare metal on the inside of the part to attach the alligator clips.
Now all the rest is pretty simple.
Attach the piece you want to etch to the positive electrode and the other negative electrode to a scrap piece of the same metal in the solution.
If you are etching a round design remember to revolve the piece in even intervals so that it etches evenly.
The etch will mainly happen where the face is facing the negative electrode
 

I cant really tell you exactly how to do it since you need to learn for yourself.

IMPORTANT:
Make sure your first etch is a scrap piece of metal and not our 40$ shroud piece.

the voltage does not matter that much but the more amps and volts you have the faster it goes.
Also make sure your metal is thick enough so it does not etch through immediately
Also make sure your negative electrode is the same metal as what you are etching.
This makes it go faster ( I have no idea why )
make sure you shake the piece every now and then to get rid of bubbles that may block etching from happening.
Also
I do not take any responsibility if you do it wrong or mess up your piece, kill or hurt yourself.
So basically use this as a guide and I have no responsibility for anything that you do with it.
Please use common sense!!!

here are some pics of what I made.
These I did intentionally make them a bit rough.
the one on top was my first test and he one below that was a much better one.



Any additions are very welcome!!!
Do what you like, say what you like, be what you like. just be cool at it.

Offline IndustrialAction

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Re: Etching without acid totorial.
« Reply #1 on: November 10, 2015, 03:41:01 AM »
It is very cool of you to post a tutorial, however, ARKM and others have been doing SWE for some time.

ARKM's Saltwater Etching Tutorial (Stencil Method)

Offline LUMINARA UNDULI

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Re: Etching without acid totorial.
« Reply #2 on: November 10, 2015, 06:00:12 AM »
Thanks for sharing  :smiley:.



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Offline Spitfire

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Re: Etching without acid totorial.
« Reply #3 on: November 10, 2015, 12:47:52 PM »
however, ARKM and others have been doing SWE for some time.

ARKM's Saltwater Etching Tutorial (Stencil Method)

Should I take this one down?
I do not know forum rules about this.
Do what you like, say what you like, be what you like. just be cool at it.

Offline ARKM

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Re: Etching without acid totorial.
« Reply #4 on: November 10, 2015, 03:58:49 PM »
Nah.  The more tuts, the merrier.  There's more than one way to "skin a cat".
« Last Edit: November 10, 2015, 04:02:23 PM by ARKM »

Offline Darkjedi

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Re: Etching without acid totorial.
« Reply #5 on: November 10, 2015, 04:32:12 PM »
And they all look different for a distinct look.  It's all to your taste at which method you use. Or skill set :cheesy:


That's for posting. The knowledge the better.


MTFBWY

Offline JudgeSabersmith

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Re: Etching without acid totorial.
« Reply #6 on: November 10, 2015, 04:33:44 PM »
Nah.  The more tuts, the merrier.  There's more than one way to "skin a cat".

Agreed.  Your tutorial adds to the Zeitgeist, so it has value.  I've got a copper saber in situ that I want to try etching with, so I'm going to do it through a combo of the tutorials I have seen thus far.  Provided I can design the etching and the masking..but that's "cart before the horse".

No one person has ALL the answers to anything in this hobby, and we all learn from each other, provided egos don't interfere.  Never feel like you shouldn't share something you learn, even if it's something that's been covered, because I guarantee no two people in this hobby the exact same way.

Offline JudgeSabersmith

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Re: Etching without acid totorial.
« Reply #7 on: November 10, 2015, 04:34:24 PM »
Nah.  The more tuts, the merrier.  There's more than one way to "skin a cat".

Agreed.  Your tutorial adds to the Zeitgeist, so it has value.  I've got a copper saber in situ that I want to try etching with, so I'm going to do it through a combo of the tutorials I have seen thus far.  Provided I can design the etching and the masking..but that's "cart before the horse".

No one person has ALL the answers to anything in this hobby, and we all learn from each other, provided egos don't interfere.  Never feel like you shouldn't share something you learn, even if it's something that's been covered, because I guarantee no two people in this hobby do things the exact same way.

Offline Spitfire

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Re: Etching without acid totorial.
« Reply #8 on: November 11, 2015, 01:14:36 AM »
Thanks guys!
Always good to hear " dude been there done that"
Trying to put into the forum s much as I can without sounding like an idiot  :cheesy:
Thanks for the support guys :azn:
Do what you like, say what you like, be what you like. just be cool at it.

Offline theharpiece

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Re: Etching without acid totorial.
« Reply #9 on: March 04, 2016, 08:50:52 AM »
great tutorial!!!

Offline Ima-Gun Di

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Re: Etching without acid totorial.
« Reply #10 on: April 05, 2016, 05:57:32 PM »
Great tutorial, I might just have to try this!!

Offline ShtokyD

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Re: Etching without acid totorial.
« Reply #11 on: February 21, 2018, 09:20:49 AM »
Also would be worth to mention a power supply voltage and current. Current shouldn't be too high, 500mA is a great value, and 12V. Too much current will just transfer into heat. I did some etching using this technique and it really works nice, clean and easy.
« Last Edit: February 21, 2018, 09:24:34 AM by ShtokyD »

 

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