Etched enclosures

[jwar]

So I've been thinking of going the non chemical (or less chemical) route with etching and buying and engraving or etching machine. I was wondering if anyone has purchased or uses one of these? I've seen some very good etches that look like they may have come from something like this. So I'm curious. I know it's a costly investment, but it's very much so worth it to me since I do etching as a side business (plus I can etch other things like rings, guns...etc if I get the right machine).

Any help would be appreciated. I'm basically just wanting to know what a good machine would be.

[guitarmageddon]

A CNC router might work, I've seen kit ones under a grand.
I think you'll need quite a bit of green if you want a laser engraver like Pickdropper uses, but that won't etch metal.

...Speaking of green...

BYOC FA-1 clone.

[deadastronaut]

^ cool, came out great, tidy build too.

[haveyouseenhim]

Why god   WHHYYYYY!

The controls turned out perfect, but the main graphic didn't transfer properly. I have tried several times to do a toner transfer etch and this is my best result so far.

[deadastronaut]

rough it up more...use a coarse grit paper man,...

what print paper are you using..?..

are you just going to leave it as a toner image on the box, or are you going to etch after?.

[haveyouseenhim]

I'm using HP glossy photo paper.  The one pictured I used 1000 grit paper to wet sand it. I always thought the smoother the better. I just used 350 grit to wet sand and it is cooling as I type.

Yea, I planned to do a reverse etch. I would like the letters to be raised.

One question though... Can I use the muratic acid and hydrogen peroxide method? Or should I go pick up some lye? Otherwise my only other option is weak radioshack ferric chloride. The diamond plate etch I did recently took a good 45 minutes for a  <.5mm deep etch.

[deadastronaut]

45 mins...

are you keeping the ferric warm?..if its cold it takes forever..

i would go a bit coarser with the wet n dry...180 grit , then when etched use a finer grit.

peel off your paper just when cooled down..still a little warm, should get a nice clean image/surface..

place you hot iron on, and let it all heat up...then rub over it with the iron.

[haveyouseenhim]

I'm going to loose my cool here. This time the paper stuck to the enclosure super bad. I got some of it off revealing a bad transfer. I'm loading up the deer slugs now

This enclosure seems to be impervious to any type of finishing techniques. The whole reason I want to etch it is I have painted it three times now with different colors and it keeps goofing up somehow.

It's really making me question my ability. I haven't had a top notch finish for a long time.

[Govmnt_Lacky]

@Mike

If you can get another transfer like the one pictured above... Why not fill in the "bad" areas with modeling paint or nail varnish? It should adhere to the surface well.

Just a thought.. 

[Hexjibber]

I'm using HP glossy photo paper.  The one pictured I used 1000 grit paper to wet sand it. I always thought the smoother the better. I just used 350 grit to wet sand and it is cooling as I type.

Yea, I planned to do a reverse etch. I would like the letters to be raised.

One question though... Can I use the muratic acid and hydrogen peroxide method? Or should I go pick up some lye? Otherwise my only other option is weak radioshack ferric chloride. The diamond plate etch I did recently took a good 45 minutes for a  <.5mm deep etch.

I only ever sand with 400 before doing the transfer. I would always give a thumbs up for lye, has worked great for me!

Sorry to see you're having such a nightmare with it, I would presume it has to the paper perhaps? Have you been successful with it in the past?

[davent]

Mike has the enclosure surface been sanded perfectly flat? It shows a surface that is well sanded but if it wasn't sanded with paper backed by a hard sanding block the top may be wavy/uneven and not allow good heat transfer from the iron.
dave

[haveyouseenhim]

Why not fill in the "bad" areas with modeling paint or nail varnish? It should adhere to the surface well.

There is too much bad area. I don't think it would turn out looking like I want.

I only ever sand with 400 before doing the transfer. I would always give a thumbs up for lye, has worked great for me!

Sorry to see you're having such a nightmare with it, I would presume it has to the paper perhaps? Have you been successful with it in the past?

I'll try some different paper. I think the HP that I used the second time was the worst issue I had. I had a hard time getting it off of the enclosure. I wasn't even trying to save the transfer. I was trying to get it off to try again and I HAD to sand the paper off 

I'm actually using your tutorial. Good stuff.

Mike has the enclosure surface been sanded perfectly flat? It shows a surface that is well sanded but if it wasn't sanded with paper backed by a hard sanding block the top may be wavy/uneven and not allow good heat transfer from the iron.
dave

Yep. I wet sanded the enclosure on a slab of marble, so it is most definitely flat.   

[Mustachio]

Its the HP paper , I have the same stuff and it has issues. To much gloss that adheres to the toner and then to the enclosure surface and doesnt want to let go of the toner.

What happened to your magazine paper ?

I have gotten a few ok transfers with this paper you just have to hit it with less heat and start to lift while its still warm. I usually leave a tab on one side where I lift from that over hangs the enclosure. Ill start lifting and if I see some toner didn't stick down ill press it back down before its fully released from the box this way its still lined up right. Then ill hit it with the tip of the iron for a few minutes.

It's not you its the paper and the winter. Humidity and temps are bad all across the country for painting etc. So good luck!

[deadastronaut]

try rubbing the skins of 14 chipolata's on a ferral cat, then run around your living room whilst dressed up as a gherkin shouting '' umbongo  umbongo whoop whoop '

then after approx 178 hours and 7 minutes of doing this your chakra should be in the right allignment, and your mind in the correct mental state to approach your box...

first  wash your hands and feet in vegetable oil mixed with high grade plutonium and a cheesecake base

now stare at the box from a distance of 4.7 feet and quietly hum along to james last's version of silver machine...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gF2ODWluPlY

you are now ready to proceed...everything will now work perfectly.


(disclaimer)  the cat may have no actual effect on the outcome. or the above procedures.

[haveyouseenhim]

^ Holy crap!   That worked! What do I owe ya?

[haveyouseenhim]

Well I tried magazine paper and it worked beautifully...................................BUT   IT    WAS   OFF    CENTER!!!!


One more try, and if I cant get it right I'm going to pepper it with bird shot.

[Govmnt_Lacky]

Well I tried magazine paper and it worked beautifully...................................BUT   IT    WAS   OFF    CENTER!!!!


One more try, and if I cant get it right I'm going to pepper it with bird shot.

Consider yourself LUCKY!!!

I have tried etching an enclosure several times with PnP, magazine, photo, etc....

NEVER got a good transfer AND my arms STILL hurt from sanding flat, cleaning, and pressing the iron!!! 

[haveyouseenhim]

I'm a lucky guy who just had a panic attack over this BS. I have tried 7 times in total to do a toner transfer on this ONE enclosure. And I have tried to paint it about 6 times with various methods. This enclosure is cursed!   

The stupidest panic attack in human history.  Oh well.....Klonapin, take me to that special place 

[amptramp]

I'm a lucky guy who just had a panic attack over this BS. I have tried 7 times in total to do a toner transfer on this ONE enclosure. And I have tried to paint it about 6 times with various methods. This enclosure is cursed!   

The stupidest panic attack in human history.  Oh well.....Klonapin, take me to that special place 

Welcome to my world.  The world where Dymo is as accurate as it gets.

[therealfindo]

Dumb question - it's not a good idea to use inkjet photo paper, right? I've been using some glossy laser paper, but I still have to scrape it out of the trances..