Saving an etched enclosure

[Mgt280y]

Tried my first etched enclosure tonight, quite happy with the detail but I didn't get a deep enough etch and it's not going to take a sand flat is there anyway of filling the etch without the need to flat after?

[EBK]

I'm thinking maybe paint it and immediately wipe the paint off the non-etched parts with a decently dense sponge (or a sanding block with cloth). May have to let it dry, repaint, and go at it again with a different wipe angle.

Of course, the answer you don't want to hear is sand it all flat and try etching again, but at least that is still there as a backup.

[deadastronaut]

Go real coarse on the wet n dry....with a block.

80 -100-120...

You,ll be surprised how soft it is to get down...

Just add elbow grease

[davent]

You may be able to fill it all with glazing putty then sanding it back to smooth. Glazing putty is basically very thick auto primer, comes in a tube, i've used it to fill minor defects before painting.

dave

[Mgt280y]

sorry didnt word the question very well i want to keep the etch but because its not very deep if i hit it with paint then sand back i dont think it will loose the etch is there a different way to make the etch stand out ie colour the etch without having to sand it after

[davent]

Hand colour/paint the etch. If a bit of paint gets outside the etch you can wipe it up before it dries.

dave

[deadastronaut]

You might be surprised when you paint it,  then sand with a flat block, and fine paper..

a layer of paint is very thin...so it might just do it , if your careful...

[asreis85]

I had the same problem, and what worked for me was going really careful with a very thin wet sanding paper and sanding around the etch. It took a lot of elbow grease but it was worth it.

[Mgt280y]

Going to give it a go tomorow, if i want the enclosure to be bare but the etch to be coloured would the etch be keyed enough that i would get away without priming first?

[deadastronaut]

Yes...i never prime the fill in...makes it too thick..

[Mgt280y]

Well got a sort of result quite like it sort of aged look it will do considering I thought it was a loss

[davent]

Looks good. From the photo the etch looks deep enough to get away with sanding but you must do like Rob said- back the sandpaper with a hard, flat sanding block like a block of wood. A fine wet paper should be all you need to clean it up, 400, 600 even finer. Trial and error is the name of the game.

dave

[deadastronaut]

Looks cool,   thats deep enough...

[Mgt280y]

Didn't paint in the end used rub and buff then clear coat over the top gives it a vintage sorta look