Etched enclosures

[Johnny Lemonhead]

The main photo thread is getting a little crowded, so I thought it was time for a separate thread dedicated to this technique.
These are my first etched enclosures:

Loop switch


Tone Bender mark II


Please share yours!

[studiostud]

dude.  those look stinkin clean, man.  well done for your first ones!  I'm going to try etching with my next pedal.  Just getting tired of the hassle and cost of decals/adhesive sticker paper.  What etchant did you use?  Ferric Chloride or something else?

[paulyy]

Very clean looking. I think I'll try some ecthing on my next pedal. Good job.

[Johnny Lemonhead]

dude.  those look stinkin clean, man.  well done for your first ones!  I'm going to try etching with my next pedal.  Just getting tired of the hassle and cost of decals/adhesive sticker paper.  What etchant did you use?  Ferric Chloride or something else?

Thanks!

About the decals - I can definitely relate. As far as results go, while etching is a bit of a hassle by itself, it can lead to better results, IMO.

Yes, I used Ferric Chloride. Masking is extremely important. I used Press and Peel for the graphics, then packaging tape for the sides of the enclosure and nail polish for covering everything else.
One more thing to point out - don't buy a polished enclosure for etching: http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=85151.0 I learned it the hard way...

[Govmnt_Lacky]

Those are some gorgeous pedals? Please share your technique cause I would love to get results like that! 

[JKowalski]

The main photo thread is getting a little crowded, so I thought it was time for a separate thread dedicated to this technique.
Please share yours!

It's much nicer to just go to one thread to see all the new arrivals instead of clicking on 10+ links for every category.

However, I've noticed that whenever these threads start up, people tend to post in both the pictures thread and the "niche" thread - let's treat these as organizational "archives" rather then "new arrival" threads.

[jimmybjj]

The main photo thread is getting a little crowded, so I thought it was time for a separate thread dedicated to this technique.
Please share yours!

It's much nicer to just go to one thread to see all the new arrivals instead of clicking on 10+ links for every category.

However, I've noticed that whenever these threads start up, people tend to post in both the pictures thread and the "niche" thread - let's treat these as organizational "archives" rather then "new arrival" threads.

+1

[Steve Mavronis]

I was afraid to mess up an enclosure by etching it directly. I etched a thin aluminum laminated panel instead for the top. I envy these beautiful box etches though.

[Johnny Lemonhead]

Point taken, JKowalski.

Those are some gorgeous pedals? Please share your technique cause I would love to get results like that! 

Thanks. I followed MarkM's tutorial here http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main.php/v/MarkMs-Gallery/album24/?g2_page=1
with a couple of changes -  instead of applying black paint and then ironing the Press n' Peel, I first ironed the PnP and then used packaging tape for the sides and nail polish for sealing the top.
My masking phase looks like this:


You want to seal it off really well and fix anything that wasn't transfered right when ironing. I used a toothpick dipped in acetone for removing excess PnP in tight spots. Take your time with this and make sure the mask is ready for etching. The etching took about 20 minutes in Ferric Chloride.
Afterwards, instead of sanding off the mask, I just pealed the tape and rubbed everything off with generous amounts of acetone.

I used free black and white vector graphics so the print would come out smooth and not pixelated.
Good luck

[Brymus]

Yes thats what gives it the clean look as much as your careful work the smooth unpixelated lines.
Superb 

[snarblinge]

going back a bit now, but just to make the beginners out there a bit more inclined to post. and to up the Pic count on this very wordy pictures thread!!.

First etch, not at all as imagined


Second etch, leaning a lot from the first.


Third and final to this day etch, (despite having a large quantity of Fcl to get through)

[Wild E]

I think if your second try could be anodized blue, purple, or maybe red it might be pretty sweet looking. Maybe some semitransparent lacquer could do what I envision. I like the layout of the uglyface too. The knobs fit the design too.

[John Lyons]

Yes, I llike those knobs as well for those boxes.
I like the small box actually.

[snarblinge]

yeah the second one has gone to another home (sold to feed the habit)

the knobs were a score from work, some ordering error landed us with 50 or so knobs for a crown d-45, written off at stocktake yay for me.

for the bottom of the lake look, i sanded them a little and chucked them in the etchant, uglyface I left them standard, but then that one is a keeper.

[deadastronaut]

i etch all my pedals now....just dont rush it....'preparation is everything'...

loads of nail varnish even if it all looks well covered by toner.....no expensive pnp...just cheap gloss paper and a thick toner layer = excellent results..........

i m not keen on paint..it chips..scratches..and then looks terrible after a few monthes of use........
but hey i like the industrial look too.....


etching is permanent..so get it right first time!.


rob.

[mattthegamer463]

etching is permanent..so get it right first time!.

Not if you've got a belt sander... 

[deadastronaut]

etching is permanent..so get it right first time!.

Not if you've got a belt sander... 

lol....some etches are pretty deep though!...probably go through it!...ha ha..

[diemilchmann]

My first etch: My own Delay!
Not bad for a first one, huh? Used Slade's Multicolor etching tutorial.

[metalero30]

my second try

[g.]

same technique here,
but with paper magazine