Etched enclosures

[deadastronaut]

cheers guys...

[jwar]

Hey guys! I had a few quick questions as I'm constantly researching and trying to perfect my etching skills.

Right now I'm trying to reduce labor and come up with more efficient ways of etching. Some would call it lazy, I would call it innovative. Anyways, I've been toying with the idea of a 3d printer to do transfers onto my enclosures in the place of using the standard ironing technique. I was wondering if anyone out there has any experience with this or if it would even work. I'm in the works of (hopefully) getting with someone locally to try it out, but wanted to see if anyone in the DIY community had already attempted it. Sure the printers are expensive, but not really when you take into the cost of lazer printers (which is what I use now).


Also I'm been looking into a solution to using sand paper to remove the film of transfers after my etches. My idea was to build a table with a belt sander in it where I could simply run an enclosure very quickly down a line to take the finish off. Not sure if what I'm saying makes sense or not, but it makes sense in my head. I've also toyed with the idea of finding a chemical to remove the transferred ink.

So the reason I'm looking for "quicker" solutions is that I am running a side business where I etch enclosures for pedal builders. I want it to be more efficient and at the same time look better. I find that sanding enclosures by hand does not always yield the correct results. I do larger runs too and want to find better ways to stream line things.

I've found that using a product called Acid Magic reduces my etch times from 5-6 minutes to under 1 minute per etch. This has saved me literally hours upon hours of waiting, and the enclosures turn out awesome!

So sorry for the long paragraph here. Just looking for experience here. Thanks!

[Pettol]

I've also toyed with the idea of finding a chemical to remove the transferred ink.

Are you talking about removing normal etch masks (toner, pnp, photo spray)? Acetone or ethyl acetate works fine. Or would that be for the 3d printer transfer? I'm sure DMF, DMSO or something similar would work.

[davent]

^If you want to use a belt sander just flip it over and clamp it in your vice, belt sander has it's own platen/table.

[frusciante89]

Hi guys, this is my first pedal:


I love it!  

[GoranP]

howd'ya clean the black stuff out of the letters?

[frusciante89]

I'm gonna post a tutorial soon

[Jdansti]

Hi guys, this is my first pedal:


I love it!  

Wow!  If that's your first...  Very nice! 

[frusciante89]

Yeah it's my first one! But I read all this thread before starting btw this is the tutorial... http://jalbum.net/en/create/photo-album/1358790
Hope it helps!

[frusciante89]

Sorry, this is the right link... http://jalbum.net/en/m/browse/album/1358790

[ch1naski]

That looks super. Those etched lines look very deep.

How'd you get it so polished?

[Pettol]

Nice!
I suppose the polishing wheel and polishing compound were a key to success.

[GoranP]

Yeah, I believe the black crap got removed during the polishing?

Also, I'd like to know whether it has started oxidizing again? I considered polishing but it seemed like a waste of time since mine always start dulling very soon afterwards. I suppose the clearcoat would dull the "finish"?

[frusciante89]

Yeah the polishing wheel was definitely the key! anyways it's still very bright (after 1 week)... we'll see what happens in the next few weeks.. by the way do you see only the pics or also the descriptions on the link I posted?

[Jdansti]

Yeah, I believe the black crap got removed during the polishing?

Also, I'd like to know whether it has started oxidizing again? I considered polishing but it seemed like a waste of time since mine always start dulling very soon afterwards. I suppose the clearcoat would dull the "finish"?

Yes it will oxidize again without clear coat. Clear coat, properly applied, should not dull the finish. If anything, it will enhance it.  Just make sure that before you apply the clear coat, you wipe it down well with alcohol or acetone to remove any residues. Don't touch it with your fingers after you clean it.  

[bluebunny]

Hi guys, this is my first pedal:


I love it!  

Wow!  If that's your first...  Very nice! 

I'm as gobsmacked as John!  Nice etch.  Nice pedal.   

[GoranP]

by the way do you see only the pics or also the descriptions on the link I posted?

I see the descriptions, just underneath the pictures. It does require scrolling down, though.

[garcho]

posted this in pictures thread too, but what the hell, it's all ones and zeroes, right?

[deadastronaut]

@frusciante:  cool first etch.. came out brilliant...lots of buffing on that i bet...

@gary...very cool. 

[garcho]