Electro etching tutorial & experiments - making a logo
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- Опубліковано 7 бер 2021
- In this tutorial I’ll show how to etch metal with electricity and salt water. I also show how to make a stencil / template for etching and I tested how different power affects the etching process and show you the results. I also tried how vinegar affects the process.
The reason for this tutorial is that I wanted to learn new ways to decorate my future projects and electro-etching seemed like a good choice. I used paint to make mask for the etching, there are other ways to do it like tape and vinyl. The reason I used paint was that it allows me to me complex images.
There are multiple things affecting the etching process and I can’t tell the science behind everything, but these are my practical results I got from this experiment.
The most important thing I learned about safety is that the etching process produces small amounts of chlorine and hydrogen. With these voltages the amount is very small though. And you might have already seen multiple videos where people do this so I don't think it's that big of a deal. But I did leave the room while the plates were etching. I suggest you do the same or have respirator or well ventilated room.
For additional info, check these sites, they also contain info about safety (I am not associated with these sites):
www.en.crujera.com/publication...
www.nontoxicprint.com/electro...
Please leave a like if you liked the video. For more details just ask in the comment section!
#etching
#electroetching
#howto
Music from UA-cam audio library:
Journeyman - Aakash Gandhi
Buccaneer’s March - Aakash Gandhi - Навчання та стиль
Hi! So I wanted to find some new ways to decorate my projects, so I decided to learn some electro-etching. Hope you like it! Just ask if you got any questions
This is amazing. I am totally binge watching your channel right now!
I'm glad to hear that! I'm working on a few projects right now, I hope to finish them soon so I can release new videos!
Thanks for the tips!
I'm working on an axe restoration right now, perfect timing to run into your video.
Both looked great
Thank you!
This is a really great effect. The spray paint is genius. I have a lazer cutter machine which I think might work on the spray paint (not sure) but I used tape before and had problems with residue which altered the look.
Que chulada, muchas gracias por este vídeo
¡Muchas gracias! I have two other projects ready too, just gotta make the videos
How would you add a picture to a pauldron for example? Like, would i be able to just print out a renaissance picture from the internet and try to transfer that onto a piece of armor and then etch that? Because i want to be able to etch a renaissance-esc picture onto my armor to give it the more medieval/gothic look.
That's a great question, for a round object it’s harder of course. You can’t really place paper/tracing paper on a pauldron without getting wrinkles on it. To get a perfect match you would need 3D modeling software I think. But I would do it in small parts, cut out stripes or pieces of paper that you can place on the pauldron without getting wrinkles. Then fill all the gaps by drawing freehanded. It requires a bit more skill of course. I will try it on my future projects so maybe I’ll come up with some more clever solution by then
Hey Good work 👍🏻, i wanted to ask you what kind of paint should i use cuz i can't find any alkyd spray paint in my country, there is only enamel and acrylic based spray paints , what should i do ?? i am so confused !!
Got any tips on keywords to google for finding a similar battery charger 😂 I saw another guys video say we needed to avoid modern “smart” chargers that won’t work unless sending a flow to an actual battery.
His was 10V though and I love the one you’re using! Makes me less spooked to jump in especially if I let some local kids try it out.
Thanks in advance! Also your videos are so top notch. I’ve watched tons of metal etching content and yours is mega educational.
Hi! First of all thank you and glad you found my video usefull. You might find something similar by searching "laboratory power supply". This one is "S-LS-85", but it seems to be a bit more expensive now due to the economy, but it was on Amazon.
I've also watched people use some diy versions, but I don't want to mess with electricity and water 😀
@@GarageKnight Thank you so much! I found yours after this comment and will get that one. Incredibly grateful for the tip! Looking forward to following along for your future projects!
@@JackieCraft Glad to help, and I hope to start some project soon!
Amazing job, congratulations!! what kind of metal did you use for?
Thank you! It's called "mild steel" and the decorative rim around it is brass. You can do it with other metals too. Just don't use galvanized steel since I think the fumes from it might be dangerous
@@GarageKnight thanks
Hey man, nice work! One quick question: for how long did you let the current go in the last three tests (the one you made to test the vinegar)
? Was it 3 hours each or less?
With the small pieces it was like 30 - 45 mins. It really depends on the size of the pieces and the area you are etching
Great video and very informative thank you! Does the cathode have to be the same metal as the anode? I've seen lots of people using a copper plate for a cathode rather than steel?
Glad to hear you found it usefull! From what I've read you should use same metals but I haven't tested it with different metal. And also steel might be a bit cheaper than copper
@@GarageKnight Thank you, I've now had a go etching a couple of pieces of steel first with a steel cathode and then using a sheet of copper cut from an old domestic hot water tank, the copper cathode seemed to etch steel a lot quicker but left a slightly rougher finish presumably because of the speed it was etching. I'm looking forward to experimenting some more!
@@robb2869 Thanks for the info, sounds interesting! For me adding the vinegar made it more smooth, I wonder what would happen with copper + steel + vinegar?
Bonjour à vous merci pour votre travail et le partage de votre savoir faire. Il y a un passage à la fin de la vidéo que je n'ai pas compris. Comment obtenez vous les finitions dorées apparaissant sur les contours du blason ? Merci par avance et bonne continuation. C'est un plaisir de regarder vos vidéos. Bonjour de France. Christian.
Hello! I had to use google translate so I hope I understood your question correctly. The golden part is a piece of brass that I cut and riveted there. Hope that answered your question
How do you prevent it from etching under the mask edges?
Just don't etch it for too long and it will only etch the area that is uncovered. If it's there too long, the edges might get blurry
So if you are etching aluminum the cathode should also be aluminum? What would happen if you used copper?
Can't tell for sure since I haven't tried it. It has to do with the properties of different metals. If you don't use same metals it simply might not etch anything.
So is that a 1:5 salt water ratio and an equal amount vinegar to water?
To be cleat it's 1:5 salt to liquid ratio. Liquid can be water or vinegar or mix of those two. For some reason vinegar gets better results 4:07
did you use distilled water?
No just normal tap water
Very interesting video, but what is the metal used for the plate ? Is it Stainless steel, aluminium, zinc or any other stuff ?
It's basic mild steel, no coating
@@GarageKnight thx for the answer.