Etchants

[jplebre]

I have FeCl stains of an unwholesome yellowish colour on some of my best jeans.

... what where you doing etching with chemicals that stain with your best jeans? 

[egasimus]

Well, as a matter of fact, I didn't have any other ones

[EATyourGuitar]

the ferric chloride that radioshack sells is too slow and weak for doing aluminum. I'm using muratic acid now. I get completely different results at 80 degrees F than 90F. I keep adding hydrogen peroxide or muratic acid to speed it up or slow it down but I guess I'm about 1 to 1. for right now, if its slow, I heat it up with a hair dryer.

[artifus]

top tip! (maybe)... did a bit of kitchen sink etching a while back using disposable microwaveable containers - cheap plastic boxes with lids, you know the type. anyways, have a few weighted motors salvaged from old playstation controllers i've picked up in junk shops for pennies or, if you ask nicely, free from game shops (the sort that hire out the consoles and games - just ask if they have any old broken controllers they don't want/can't fix and you can sometimes score a box full - free mini joysticks! moo-chos toe waggling stompbox noise making fun!) so had a bunch of these rumble pack  motors i didn't know what to do with next to that pile of half dead pp3 batteries we all have. so put them all together (blue tak, gaffa/pvc tape, what have you) for auto etching agitation on the cheap. ie - attach vibrating motor to container.

[jplebre]

I'm new to etching, but I'm using Rapid's (rapidonline) FeCL on a tub. Just warm the FeCl before on a hot tub (inside a glass container) and it does the thing in about 10-15min.

my 1cent

[EATyourGuitar]

the vibrator is a great idea. I have noticed that the bubbles build up on one spot and cause it to etch deeper on one end. I tried half masking it half way through the etch to even it out. I should mention that I still use a wax mask carved by hand and I have never done a laser transfer.

[deadastronaut]

@artifus. good idea!...been thinking about how to best agitate...gently!...


@eat: wax what?...intrigued!..could you explain a little more!.. cheers.

[EATyourGuitar]

@wax mask, its time consuming and doesn't give you a highly detailed professional looking etch. but it looks cool in a punky kinda way. its pretty simple, dip it in wax, scrape your lettering out of the wax. the lettering is exposed to the etchant. too much heat melts the wax. you need some practice or luck. I might switch to a wax with a higher melting temperature and thicker viscosity when liquid.

the mask

the etch

painted over a failed range master etch

ferric chloride not deep enough after an hour

[deadastronaut]

ahhh i see now!...

i like the drunk bitch!...reminds me of my wi....f......arghhhhhhhhhhh.... get off....arghhhh...........whack.....punch......arghhhhhhh.....

[jplebre]

roflmao!

.... that scene... way to close to home for anyone to ignore!