Etched enclosures

[pakrat]

@poppyman, I am definitely no expert on etched enclosures, but it looks as if the etch isn't deep enough. I use even lower grits to clean my boxes and move up to 2000 to finish them. If the boxes aren't flat anymore that would probably cause problems too, so keep an eye on that. I think your boxes look very cool either way.

[poppyman]

thank you pakrat!

I'm gonna give it a go and try etch as deep as I can. I was just worried that the acid would start to "eat" under the toner. For the sand paper , I guess I have to order it since my local french DIY shops don't make any above 1000. Oh well, I think etching taught me patience already! 

[pakrat]

Have you seen this tutorial? http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=80962.0  Slade's etches are a true inspiration, they are incredible! I pretty much follow his methods, and I get a little better each time. Painting over the toner also makes it much more resistant to the etchant, so you can etch longer/deeper..... Preparation is the key!

[endorphin]

Was the first pedal I ever built so it was about time i gave it a nice look. Devi Ever Soda Meiser/VFM built from the kit with the mods listed on her schematic.





The space invader was a last minute thing but it suits what sounds the pedal is capable of. Ha the blocks of wood are almost there! Got impatient.

[poppyman]

Have you seen this tutorial? http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=80962.0  Slade's etches are a true inspiration, they are incredible! I pretty much follow his methods, and I get a little better each time. Painting over the toner also makes it much more resistant to the etchant, so you can etch longer/deeper..... Preparation is the key!

Hey pakrat, sorry for the delayed reply/question (I was on tour !).
I usually used mark hammer's tutorial with some hints of Ruz's method. Ruz etchings are absolutely amazing too. But Nicofx's ones are my favs so far!
I just re-read the whole tutorial and didn't find any mention of  a "painting over the toner" step. Is it something that you do? How does it work?

I found something that I didn't pay much attention to before in Ruz tutorial that I should try : masking the little details at some point to let the bigger surfaces etch longer.
Anyways, thanks you so much for the hints. Etching turns out to be my favorite time of the pedal making now. Loads of rewarding work (on the good days)   

[pakrat]

I love the way etching looks too, which is why I'm always looking to improve my methods. I have not seen any of Mark Hammer's or Nicofx's etches, but I will be searching now. Maybe the painting thing was from Aron's site, I can't remember now..... but in that method, he cuts away large spots of black in his graphic prog before he prints. It's supposed to make the air escape more easily while you transfer it to the enclosure. Then, use paint or nail polish to cover the spots after the transfer. I have done it and it works better for me. I usually paint the entire area right over the toner as close to the graphic as possible to reinforce the toner so I can etch deeper. Some people "paint" the etchant onto the areas to be etched. That method should keep un-etched areas from getting that pitted look, but I have not tried it. I would think the etch could be uneven doing it like that. Looking at some of the pics people post in here really let's you see the crazy talent they have.... and some really nice ones in this thread too http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=36392.19180

[pakrat]

Nice endorphin, I love that atari look. How does that thing sound?

[endorphin]

Thanks man sounds pretty cool the soda meiser side is a little bassy and the vintage fuzz master is bright and little tone benderish in my opinion with the mods you get some oscillation which the starve knob controls the pitch. Sounds reminiscent of an oldschool game console cause it gets all glitchy and kind of arpeggiates so i threw the wood pieces on those were inspiration from beavis audio research, moog, buchla kind of stuff too.

[g.]

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[poppyman]

looking great as always, q.

I like the way your etch designs always look like (dead) leaves...and your knobs are always very classy and look like taken from vintage radios.

Here's my last etch taken from a drawing made by the friend I made the pedal for.

It's a GGG EAT trem with the boost mod. I usually don't like the knobs which come with the kits but I thought they looked good on that box 

[dromilious]

Here is one of my latest builts.a zvex fuzz factory based pedal but with two 2n3906 trans and of course one 2n390 and some mods.

[deadastronaut]

2 etches for small clone chorus,  the  one on the left is for a old friend who collects war militaria, he'll love this....its his 50th birthday present.

it will have blue on/off led and a standard 3mm blue pulse led in the centre of the iron cross...


the one on the right is the 'baphomet'  for a friend who is an angel witch fan.  old school.....

same blue on/off led...and standard blue in the lap of the baphomet...(baphead )

[Perrow]

The war themed should have had "in" and "Aus".

[deadastronaut]

yeah, shit i wish id thought of that....cool idea!.

[deadastronaut]

2 small clones. 

[.Mike]

Here's what I've been working on:

     

[deadastronaut]

cool, for some reason it reminds me of a 50's vending machine...which is a compliment btw...i like it!..

[asatbluesboy]

cool, for some reason it reminds me of a 50's vending machine...which is a compliment btw...i like it!..

True dat.

Pure awesomeness. Are the fonts your regular Microsoft ones?

[deadastronaut]

^ who me?..i use fonts from dafont .com...

nice svg's for inkscape,  no pixelation.

[asatbluesboy]

^ who me?..i use fonts from dafont .com...

nice svg's for inkscape,  no pixelation.

I was actually asking Mike, but thanks nonetheless!