Electro-Etching Steel using vinyl mask- Attempt #2
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- Опубліковано 28 сер 2024
- I made note in the video of the time started- it was 12:10pm.
I cut the power and rinsed off the etching exactly an hour later...(1:10pm) I failed to note that on camera.
This was my second attempt at this technique of etching, It can only get better from here.
Here are the various effects of:
-Fairly dilute salt water/vinegar mix running at higher voltage (20 +Volts , Low Amps) Attempt #1...
VS.
-5 oz of vinegar 5 oz of salt,13 cups of water and (5 Amps of current and about 4.7 Volts) Attempt #2....this video!
If you have any ideas as to how to improve this process, please leave a comment. I am merely experimenting on getting the best results and any input is very much welcome.
Thanks for watching.
Music: LORN
Song : My Flower
Album: Self Confidence
Try using Ferrous Sulfate in (250g / Liter distilled water) instead of salt.
You will get zero sludge / scum.
Also try dropping your voltage to somewhere under 5V
Use a stainless-steel or Titanium (expensive) cathode if you can. SS or Ti mesh works great.
Keep the work piece (anode) an even distance from the cathode so it's exposed evenly to the ion/electron flux.
Lower voltage = less / no bubbles = smooooth. Just takes a long time... who cares though =)
Keep posting!
p.s. be sure to use a proper grade of ferrous sulfate such as that sold by alpha chemicals - it's cheap and you can reuse it FOREVER (don't throw it away!) Just be sure to only etch steel in and it will remain CLEAN - just occasionally filter out the excess iron / carbon buildup.
George Viaud
Can you tell me if i use that ferrous sulfate and water,how long i need to wait to get 1 millimeter etch on steel size 5"×7" ???
And is it good idea to buy tb95 etching solution?
Thank you
Good tips. I notice everyone has their own formulas and process. It's all good.
How u guys make a smal detailed vinyl coz the cutter plotter ain't that good at it
HOLA to the group! Neo Geo, do you videos made from you? Showing the formula and materials,that you explained here? Is always good to see everyone styles! Thanks in advance
I have watched several etching videos but yours are the best. Great details and excellent results. Thanks!
I really appreciate the comment! thanks for watching!
I like your method where you etch the background by covering the image/letters. It makes the letters really pop of the surface-nice quality!
Neat trick with the dowel.
I didn't have a power supply like yours, which is very cool by the way that you can adjust and set volts and amps, so I figured I'd make a power supply by hooking a battery charger up to and old, but good car battery. Thinking the battery would act as a buffer so I wouldn't burn out my charger.
The charger only has three settings, trickle charger, 10 amps, and starting mode @ 50 amps.
I ran the charger at the 10 amp setting @ 12 volts. It took 12 hours to eat away .088 to .090 depth in free machining brass stock.
To check how much material was removed, I used a drop dial indicator to check depth. I'm very surprised the depth was so consistent. The etched away surface was surprisingly smooth.
Thank you for sharing your etching results for comparison.
Really looks good except for where the salt water leaked under the vinyl lettering a bit so the edges of the lettering is not really sharp.
Keith Lane glad to hear your first attempt was successful! Thanks for watching and commenting!!
His power supply only costs 60 dollars on amazon so I recommend getting that instead. I tried using a car battery and it works, it's just really slow.
Awesome it must of felt so good to peel off the resist and see the depth! so satisfying....I know I need a life!
Debra Kowalski nah, you’re right. It is satisfying. I have a more current video with a better recipe and different metals and some even better results if you’re interested. ua-cam.com/video/Jab0X2MuK5s/v-deo.html Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment. I appreciate it!
I am looking all your videos now. I have a laser cutter I use laserbond to "etch" on stainless steel it doesn't create depth in the etch. Im interested in using the laserbond as a resist instead of vinyl which i find to be a PIA. gonna see if it works with this salt water etch
I have not heard of this laser bond stuff I just googled it quickly and see what you’re talking about now. That seems like a great idea. I am curious about your findings. Definitely cmon by again and let me know if you do some experimentation with this. I have tried a couple other things for resists like screen printing Inc. etc. so this sounds like it may work. As long as you have something that will dry and not be water-soluble I think it would work. Please do share what ya come up with!!!
Nice...
Thank you for sharing 👍
That was pretty cool.
I appreciate it, Thanks for watching!
Awsome job 👍 can't wait to try this
char dan thank you for the comment! Good luck!
Your video inspired me to start experimenting with this process myself, so thank you!
That’s awesome. Exactly the kinda thing I hope happens!!! Thanks for watching and sharing that! Good luck!
Quite awesome results! Bravo! Much better than the hi powered test
run... Well done sir! 👍👍👍👍
Thank you for watching and for the positive comment! I appreciate it! stay tuned for my next video where I’ll be testing various metals (copper/aluminum/steel) and various metals for the cathode to see how the results vary! Coming up soon!
nice job, I've been wanting to try this on a knife blade I'm working on for a different look, your video helped me to go ahead and start getting the stuff together to do it. thank you.
Paul Salchow that's great to hear. That's the kind of thing I love to hear the most. Cheers! Happy making!
Thank you for taking the time to post these videos. I am getting ready to do this myself and you are saving me a lot of time with trial and error. Can't wait to see what you come up with next!
I really like to hear when a video was helpful! Thanks so much for watching and commenting! I appreciate it! Good luck with your projects!
@@fleanine I did my first trial run the other day and it came out amazing! 4.0V @2.5A for 60 minutes on aluminum using vinyl as the blocker. Kosher salt and Distilled water diluted until the water wouldn't accept anymore salt. Thanks again.
Craig Darpino Thats is fantastic to hear! I love when things work out on the first try! Thanks for reporting back with your formula, I’ll be posting a video soon of other metals and comparing etch times with the same solution. It’s good to hear what you used for aluminum. Just out of curiosity what size container were you using / how much water? Cheers!
@@fleanine Awesome! I can't wait to see what you come up with. I did notice something interesting though. The etch is not as deep where the lead is hooked up. The further from the power source the deeper the etch. I am trying to find out a way to spread the load across the item for a more consistent etch.
Very helpful video. That 2nd piece looked great, but as you say the first one has something. Character.
Excellent Video. Imagine trying to do the same thing with a cutter/router. Its a good cheaper alternative for sure.
But how? A mini CNC router? I mean, I'm thinking this as a process to consistently duplicate which is hopeful at a reasonable cost.
@@WallyFuller I agree
Great work!!
Thank you ... and thanks for watching!
For fine control over electro-etching, use: Pliers (metal), power source, saline solution (yours is perfect), cotton balls, vinyl stencil.
Attach wires to project and pliers, soak the cotton balls, grip the saturated cotton balls with the pliers, make slow, steady passes over the metal to be etched. Repeat until desired etching or until cotton ball is that festering yellow color, if the latter, grab another cotton ball.
Warning: While a 6v battery can work, if you are using the power source similar to the one in your video, do exercise caution to keep from a zap.
I think you can use mild steel, it will just create more scum / debris in the water.
Cool video keep up the great work!
thxs for sharing,bro..cheers!
You're welcome! Thank You for watching and the comment!
Electrolysis a nice demo of most and least noble metals
Nice video...
Excelente tutorial, mi amigo!!!
Nice job. Thanks.
Mike McHenry I appreciate the comment, thanks for watching !
I have some questions please. 1. How important is the temperature of the water ? 2. Does the sacrificial part have to be that big, don't you just need contact for the current to flow through the solution ? 3. Does the sacrificial part have to be of the same material as the part being etched ? Then lastly I think brushing it with a paint brush every so often will get rid of the bubbles or you can have a mechanism slowly rocking it so the solution rushes over the part and getting rid of the bubbles.
... Very good sir !. i must try
Thanks for watching ! Good luck with your projects!
Thank you for sharing. Im Max from Argentina. I made it a few minutes ago and it works perfect.
That's awesome! I appreciate you watching and trying this! I'm no scientist ,lol... so I just tried a few things ... I found that it's helpful if you shake it occasionally so any tiny bubbles don't "stick" to the metal and give it those specks that you see in this video. Ideally I think it would be good to somehow vibrate it the entire time or somehow circulate the water more. Thanks for the comment, and good luck with your projects.
+fleanine well... at the end of the day results wasnt the best because of me. but. will try tomorrow again. water + salt gave me better results with a low charge fron a cel phone charger. i test it over regular building iron. works good.
yes moving water, clean and some heat could be good for it.
any way you showed us a really cool result in your video.
@ fleanine == I suggest vibrating it. You can buy small lab size vibrating tables, or even build your own. They are used in lost wax casting to get the bubbles out of the investment.
Nice sir this job
Manoj Jangra thank you! And thanks for watching!
Awesome tutorial, I was curious how you're dealing with the etching solution after you're done? Do the solids settle out of it to the bottom? I've etched previously with ferric chloride and now I just have bottles of spent etchant and no idea what to do with them.
Thanks for sharing it's great.
I am not a "Metallurgist's",...but I was wondering if using a Heat Gun to help with the vinyl appliques might help? Just a thought!
Actually you are 100% correct! I address that - about two minutes in -on a more recent video. It definitely helps the glue to bond better! Thanks for watching and taking your time to comment. I really appreciate it!
Here’s the video I’m referring to: Electro Etch Deep Enough for Branding Iron ua-cam.com/video/lFaSt03wTd0/v-deo.html
i like the first one
Fleanine, very good that such textar use a well concentrated lemon juice and keep the water temperature always high because the lemon juice is corrosive also I will try with a 12v and 7a nobreak battery another good material is brass or copper For being softer.
don't use vinegar, it cos bubble. use only salt for smooth surface
You’re right. My later videos address this and a few other issues I ran into... thanks for commenting !!!
very cool!
kamikazekeebler I appreciate the comment! Thanks for watching .
Great video - I was contemplating using a 12V car battery, but I like the controllability of the power supply - low volts high amps seems to be the secret - have you tried using other metals? Brass, Stainless Steel, Aluminium etc? Thanks for taking the time to film and edit the video - very informative
Des Thompson I haven't tried every metal known to man but apparently you can pretty much do most any metal like this. I have a nice piece of copper I'm going to try it with next. Thanks for your comments- and for watching!
Des Thompson n
What device did you use to make the vinyl mask?
So you don't touch the Amp setting only the volts? What metal did you uses for the sacrifice?
LEO Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. I appreciate you watching.I have a more current video in my etching playlist that will answer your questions, in that video I do various metals and show the recipe and result for each at similar settings for comparison. Please check out the playlist here: ua-cam.com/play/PLWT95-YNcJQ-a97KD8fKynnWMg5ZZC9Oj.html
@@fleanine You are most welcome mate. I've been looking into this for the past few days now. My 17v 3amp Transformer doesn't etch much at all using the cotton earbud method and regular wetting.
I'm trying to work out how people are getting these results
Is my power supply to weak?
@@fleanine I have watched almost all of your videos now. I'm wondering what Transformer I need. I would like to do completely submerged Etching as well as semi wet. What supply is optimal?
@LEO I use the Dr. Meter shown in the following link , i would think if your machine is a 17v/ 3amp it should do the trick, if anything it’ll just be a tad slower without the amperage, but should still work. It will definitely work better with submerging, rather than the wiping with a cotton ball or similar. Just make sure you use a bunch of salt and let it do its thing.. Dr.meter 30V/5A Variable Linear DC Bench Power Supply Single-Output 110V/220V Switching with Alligator Leads Included, US 3-Prong Cable,PS305DM for Lab Equipment www.amazon.com/dp/B00O8DJ8QC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_WEUPEbGG6RVDW
very cool definitely have to try this just wondering . Did you print on vinyl film and cut around the letters. appriciciate your advice. 👍👍👍
Mark Grevatt thanks for watching! I have a vinyl cutter and made up the text in illustrator- then cut that in vinyl. However, You could do what you suggested and it would be just as good if you take your time and cut accurately .
I have another video That uses vinyl cutter and shows it in action as well for my screenprinting setup:
ua-cam.com/video/IGF3wRySqAM/v-deo.html
Thank you for your comment too!
hi - thanx for taking the time to share and making a vid! i actually like the pitted one better. i do wood carvings and usually we dimple those spaces to create a contrast. so.....how did you get the effect of the first one? thanx!
John Emmons Thank you for the comment and for watching. To answer your question, the first time I did it with a metal piece (about the third of the size of the one I used in this video) on the negative side , my water only had about a half of a cup of salt in it. Because of this, it was cranking out more volts but less amps. Can't remember exactly what the settings were, but once I turned it on, I just slowly cranked the knob and had it all the way up .. it kind of "sets" itself. I left it in for maybe 20 min and kept checking- finally just pulled it when I saw it looked like it did. I also like the character of that one. :) Hope some of that helps... let me know how it works out if you try it!
Nice video. Quick question. After the process is done the water is toxic? Can i throw the water without problems?the negative metal has to have the same size as the positive? Thanks a lot
There are proper ways to get rid of the water, I just reuse mine until i cant anymore. Some local dumps or trash collection have a way to take chemicals or "hazardous" stuff. In the past, if the container was small enough i just let it sit until all the water evaporated and then wiped out the bin. The negative and positive don't have to be exactly the same , it just makes sense in my mind that the two parts should be relative surface area so the electricity has the best chance of flowing continuously. Thanks for your comment and taking the time to watch the video! Check out my other etching stuff in this playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLWT95-YNcJQ-a97KD8fKynnWMg5ZZC9Oj.html
Can contain toxic Chromium.
This is excelent! I've seen all your videos on this subject, I have one question, can you reuse the solution, or you itch it each time? and in that case, how do you dispose it? thanks a lot!
Cool stuff. Thanks!
Benji Molina Thanks for watching! Good luck with your projects...
cool
The pitting is from small bubbles you have to brush the metal piece tillbubbles are gone
For sure. I have some newer vids in my Etching playlist that address that a bit more.. I occasionally pull it and rinse and/or brush lightly etc. Thanks for taking the time to comment , I appreciate you watching! Cheers!
your welcone buddy this is just grest work and can't wait to try this I have two restoration work now and will definitely need to try this for some tags.Trouble is I'm so busy with work at the moment it's finding the time to do this. just wondering do you take on any private commission work. As I'm sure you have more experience in doing this kind of work. If you do I would like to talk to you about maybe doing some tags for me. If that's possible. I'm sure you would achieve a more professional look than I can
a) brushing out bubbles with some brush by hand or machine, will be good idea?
b) longer time with shorter current will be good rule for more nice result?
c) thank you for video
Brushing out or periodically rinsing the debris/bubbles is a good idea, for sure. I have a few more recent videos that have a bit more of a “recipe” that works as far as how much salt to use and how much time etc. have a look at the etching playlist.. I have one video that also tests on various metal as well. Thank you for taking the time to comment ! I appreciate it! Here are the other etching vids: ELECTRO ETCHING ua-cam.com/play/PLWT95-YNcJQ-a97KD8fKynnWMg5ZZC9Oj.html
Since filming have you been able to remove the bubble marks? Also, how did you make a stencil out of the vinyl? Thank you for your quick reply :)
if you reverse the current would you get raised letters on your plate as metal from the sacrificial plate is moved to the label plate and would they be even in height?
A great video!!!! All I can seem to find as a power source is either a
'Digital DC Power Supply 30V 5A Precision Variable Adjustable Lab Grade " or a regular battery charger. What would you suggest ?
Thanks
Randy
+fleanine wondering why u used salt & the vinegar together?,
vinegar on its own is acidic but does the salt speed up the etching process?
Interesting ! What depth of engraving can be achieved with this process? Thank you !
What power supply are you using?...make and model?...Thanks!...Great work by the way!
I use this model. Dr.meter 30V/5A Variable Linear DC Bench Power Supply Single-Output 110V/220V Switching with Alligator Leads Included, US 3-Prong Cable,PS305DM for Lab Equipment www.amazon.com/dp/B00O8DJ8QC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_-I3DEb3YYVC31
It’s been working out great so far. I have a couple more recent videos in my “etching” playlist that go more into a decent recipe for a good etch and what I’ve changed since this video May be worth the watch... here’s that link: ua-cam.com/play/PLWT95-YNcJQ-a97KD8fKynnWMg5ZZC9Oj.html
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment! I appreciate it!
Why salt AND vinegar? Wouldn't the acid and the base cancel out?
So.. if I kept this in the solution longer, would the etching get even deeper?
Yep! I have a couple more recent vids that go into that detail specifically to see how deep I can go to make a branding iron if you’re interested! Thanks for watching!!!
Great video I’m curious how deep did that go I want to make stamp to mark my lead flashings that I make they are only around 1.8 mm thick I could just order a brass stamp off eBay but there’s no fun with that
I have several other videos that go into getting a deep etch for branding irons etc.. definitely deep enough for a stamp. may have some decent info for you there. Check out my electro etching playlist! Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment!
fleanine checked out your playlist it was very helpful thanks then had a play I need to get some vinyl cut when the lock down is relaxed I tried with the printer toner method and the only salt I had (table) and left it for and hour it definitely started to work but the toner dissolved before the hour was up I can clearly see the etch just needs a little more depth 👍🏻
I got my vinyl and been playing I’m semi happy with my first attempts I’ve made a punch with my business name to stamp my lead flashings and a brass branding iron to mark my ring boxes I’ve got some more vinyl on its way to try again I left the brass a little too long and got some under cutting and I lost some letters on the steel hopefully second time around will be the one
My masking are coming off while etching. What can you recommend? Thanks
Need help in setting up this unit can you breif step by step process and machine and chemical required as well Safety measures | thanks in advance
If you watch my more recent video i go thru the process a bit more/ and add text on screen that shows the different ratios of water/ salt/ time / metal etc. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching! ua-cam.com/video/Jab0X2MuK5s/v-deo.html
Any issue with hydrogen gas due to the electrolysis?
Im sure there is some off gassing but I’ve personally never had any problems. I know it’s probably safer to do it outside, and if I crack a window and get some circulation with a fan in the area so the gas doesn’t really build up in a given space, I feel better about the situation. It would be pretty hard to cause some kind of reaction or “explosion” ... But that’s me. Like anything, just use some common sense/precautions, and if you feel unsafe doing something, just don’t do it. At least use a fan and try not to breathe heavily around it when you are dipping/ removing etc. It’s a fun process and can do some cool stuff. I personally would hate to let TOO much “safety” get in the way ;)
@@fleanine thanks for the reply, no for sure looks really cool and great idea some reason UA-cam has been recommending HH0 generator videos to me en mass, and I've been watching so I guess they know best, but I was like this is basically the same thing in principle so more curious than anything keep it up appreciate the vids and reply.
So I have tried this, set up the leads exactly like you have them.. negative on sacrificial piece and positive on the etched piece. I kept it in for 4 hours yesterday at 1.5 volts and absolutely nothing happened to the metal. I'm using steel.. do I need to significantly up the voltage? Trying to get a super smooth etch. Negative piece looks like its conducting but nothing is happening to the positive. Any help??
I would start at around 5 or 6 V.. depending on the mix of salt in the water, affects the amperage that flows. Can go up accordingly. Hope they helps .
@@fleanine So I just up'd the voltage to 2.8.. that's all it allows me to go up. We have the same amplifier.
Then I would try to add more salt to the mix and maybe some boiling water
Will this process affect wood? I’m hoping not. I have an axe head I want to etch but it has a wooden handle. Can I just tape up the handle? Would the process stain the wood?
Walter Johnson It may stain the wood a little bit, but won’t erode it. I assume removing the metal from the wood entirely is not an option, however that would be the best way to go.
Taping it off will definitely help -also pay attention to any gaps that lead between the head of the ax and the handle . If fluid can reach it , it will etch. If there are any gaps I would probably put some hot glue in the gaps or something like that, so you will only etch the external surface of the ax and not any metal that is contacting the wood in the center, which could potentially remove enough metal to make the ax head loose. Thank you for watching , I hope this input helps a little bit.
How aluminium plate etched
Hey fleanine, Great Vid. BTW the sacrificial part is the work piece not the metal plate.Peace
Scoutforlife .......argh. Yup. :(. Thanks for watching and for the input.
maybe try using distilled water to avoid excess minerals in the water just as an experiment to see how it will turn out
“That’s the science” 😂
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment! Cheers!
I think I’m going to try the project myself. Your video was helpful!
Check out my more recent video too, i have a “ recipe” and do various metals. It’s in my “etching” playlist! Its a bit more recent and i list an actual amount of salt/ water and go over the timing / and electrical settings. Electro Etching Various Metals- Copper, Aluminum, Steel, Damascus ua-cam.com/video/Jab0X2MuK5s/v-deo.html
fleanine Totally! Thanks for the recommendations!
If you make something let me know how it goes. I’m always curious.
what is used in the negative pole...???thanks..very nice vidio...
I don't have one of those meters so could the same thing going be done with a 6v or car battery?
Do you think this will work to make a metal stamp? to stamp another metals with a press?
I am researching for the same idea. I want to make stamps for jewelry stamping silver and gold. I was thinking of using a laser printer to make the mask and apply to the end of a polished metal rod, then etch. Did you find anything or come up with a solution?
m3sca1 no :( I tried but I wanted to stamp chromed steel... but I think this will work for softer metals like gold and silver, I end up buying on etsy a stamp for 125 bucks and works perfect... you can search there... there is a lot of people that make stamping tools
be careful with electrochemistry and chrome containing metals due to Chromium (VI) i.e. chromium +6 which is a serious carcinogen. I'm investigating ways to mitigate this issue myself at the moment and I, too, wish to etch stainless steel.
With that said, if you just want some corrosion resistance I believe you can use mild steel, then electroplate it with copper or possibly zinc to make it corrosion resistant.
If you're looking for hardness, you can chrome plate it afterwards... but now you're talking about playing with chromium 6 / chromic acid again. Yikes.
No.....
I used to work as a commercial engraver making machine and hand stamps. Etching will create a deep enough recess to look good, but you run the risk of the etch solution undercutting the tape and weakening the surface.
Commercial stamps we used to make were cut from a specific steel (can't remember exactly type) then using a pantograph engraver (both 3D type and 2D) we would ensure face surface was consistent.....once all was completed the stamp was then case hardened in a forge then quenched in oil . If it's repeated results you need then I'd be looking at a stamp made this way
Anyone tried this for a stamp? I have all the equipment to this rather than forking out hundreds of pounds for a machined stamp if I can avoid it.
Im thinking about creating a personalized ring with fraternity and us military crest or logos. Im concerned that the details wont show on a ring(band). Can you advise on the best way to proceed.
Tiny details at that scale would be tough, I haven't tried to etch anything quite that small yet. It's all about the masking... I know there are places you can have your logo sent (like for knifemakers) that can print a reusable mask for etches. That may be something to look into and see what their tolerances are. Thanks for commenting!
what is front side....(steel and iron) please give me answer sir
Ever tried using a piece of copper as yur sacrificed metal? Kinda curios how that would turn out!
Hi. I would like to thank you for posting this video, I'm going to try this as soon as I get my hands on some vinyl. one question though, I'm thinking of trying it on a motorcycle petrol tank and I'm wondering how solid is the final product? would it peel away, or if you scratch it, would it fall off?
thanks
liviu.plesu The vinyl I use is actually meant for vehicle graphics, so you'll have no problems with that. :) any kind of orocal rolled vinyl will be fine for what you're doing.
thanks for your reply, I really appreciate it. so basically all you need is a car/ customization decal. I've already purchased 3 to muck about with them and see what's happening. what about the finished product? is it going to be weather/scratch resistant?
regards,
one more thing. how does it work,I'm having a debate with an engineer friend of mine who is sceptical about this. I reckon the vinyl glue somehow gets mixed with the metal particles from the sacrificial plate and that gives it some sort of edging.
looking forward to your reply.
regards,
liviu.plesu The vinyl is just to protect the areas you do not want to etch. Like a mask. etching removes layers of metal so it will definitely last -and not scratch off, it's physically in the metal... if you're doing this on a vehicle I would recommend some sort of clear coat afterwards , because you will be into raw metal once the etch is done and It will oxidize if it's not stainless steel.
Hi. It is dangerous to electro etch with salt water?
hello thanks for sharing stuff!
please let me know about vinyl masking .
thanks
Thanks for video
Can you tell me is this work with sharpie or iron transfer metod??
samir pasic I would use something more like scotch tape or packing tape to be safe. Not so sure the sharpie would hold up under the solution for too long. But you can use a Q-tip and just swab gently instead of submerging for smaller Etches. Hope that helps. Thanks for watching !
Hello,nice video.
Tell me if i want to etch 8" x 10" steel,how many voltage i need and peace on negative side how big need to be ??
Where in store i can buy aligator clips???
Thank you very much for video and i hope you will answer on my questions ??
samir pasic 8x10 is just as simple as the smaller piece I did in this video. You will obviously need a larger bowl or container.... The amount of voltage will depend on how strong the mix is and how well it conducts the current. In the video around the 5:45 mark I show what settings I ended up with.
You can get alligator clips in the electrical department of most big box stores. I hope this helps!
Thanks for watching - more to come soon!
Thank you
How’d you get rid of the black foamy goo?
This is like a real science experiment. Where you get the power supply cube?
thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. I got the power supply from Amazon, look up "Dr. meter power supply"
You don't mentioned how to print the paper, the design etc. thanks
Reduce te voltage or limit the current , shire it will take more time but you won’t have those pits
Totally!!! I have a couple videos that I just posted recently that address that very issue, thanks for commenting ..and for watching!
hi there, nice tutorial... what if i want to etch a 4x8 feet sheet of steel, should i used the same 13v?
You are going to have way more problems than just voltage.
Was the 20 gauge steel 1018 or stainless or ?... thanks!
The Wild West Workshop that was just a standard piece of mild steel available at the Home Depot or similar store.. this does work on stainless too. Thanks for watching!!!
fleanine thank you! I now have a diy way to make replacement machinery tags for my vintage workshop. Super super psyched.
would this method work on aluminum as well? Or just on steel? Thanks
Works on any metal copper too
Can you tell me the two metals that you used
Imesh Udawela The piece that has the logo etched into it (positive) was 20 gauge sheet steel -available at the Home Depot. The negative lead was hooked up to 1/4"x3" flat bar /also something similar available at your local hardware store.. or any piece of crappy steel you can find laying around. It really doesn't matter. Thank you for watching!
Very nice video…how did you make the paper letters template?
You can do it with a cutter that you connect to your computer; it looks like he did this cause it is so accurate. You can also just do it with a knife. All you have to do is have the vinyl which is baically just a big sticker that will stick like tape to the etching. It's real easy..
Congratulations on the video, how the paper you used
Hebert Freitas I think you're referring to the decal I used to mask the image? If so, it's oracal vinyl- I cut the image on a Roland vinyl cutter, but if you get creative you can draw out your own image and cut it out with an xacto knife or similar. You could also use a thick packing tape or anything like that, as long as it'll hold up under water. Thanks for watching and for the comment!
I suspect those pits are due to residues on the knife, which can be removed with some alcohol beforehand.
I have more recent videos in my Etching playlist that have a decent recipe / electrical settings which addresses the pittiness of the etch. Thanks for watching! ua-cam.com/play/PLWT95-YNcJQ-a97KD8fKynnWMg5ZZC9Oj.html
Ciao che tipo di metallo stai usando?
does the surface of the plate you are etching have air bubles on ?
rutrem09 hi, thanks for watching! It did have some small bubbles, I would suggest either circulating the water or every so often remove it from solution and shake it off. I know they even sell vibrating platforms to help avoid this. This was only my second run at this and these are the things we learn :)
fleanine yep. exactlly... the bubles prevent the reaction. thnx
What kind of metal is the sacrificed piece ???? ist the same steel than the positive ???
Esdrey Rubi Garrido it's just a chunk of 1/4 steel I had laying around. The etched piece is also steel, and can be purchased at Home Depot or the like. Thanks for watching!
Stainlees Steel ?? 304 SS or 316 SS ?? ,A36 STEEL ?
The Etched piece is just plain old16g sheet metal. The sacrificial piece is mild steel. It really doesn't matter, it will work on any metal. I've tried on stainless as well.
I have tried this a dozen times and it doesnt work, at all. I read I could use brass as my sacrifice but do I need to use steel?
I would check your polarity, it won't work if your leads are reversed.
Also, check if your water has enough salt in it. I haven not used brass personally, but as long as it's a conductive metal you should be ok.
Checked the polarity and I am good there. I do gold and nickle plating so I fully get the idea of what I am doing, I just get no results. I am using one of the morton black round things of salt to a half gallon of water, and my water is at about 120 degrees. 13-14 volts at about 4.5-4.75 amps. 2 hour baths and nothing. do I need more salt than that. I was told to use more than I can desolve, but does even more undesolved salt still help it etch?
That should be plenty of salt... I think i only used about a cup in this video...plus the vinegar, but found out later the vinegar wasn't 100% necessary. The only other thing i can suggest is maybe try with different material and see if anything happens with that? I etched 18g sheet metal in this video and used the 1/4" thick flat bar for the negative lead. Seems like everything you're doing is on point.
I've even tried it on two steel eyelets (Eye Hooks) that were the same size, positive lead on one, negative on the other, coming off of a 9Volt battery... and dipped in a cup of salt water that only had about 4 tablespoons of salt....and even that worked.
Also, at 12 volts and 4.7 amps, it is eating my steel banana clips on the etched piece in about 5 minutes.
I did notice that finding a piece of stainless helped increase conductivity, but why is it eating away my leads?
Hi. good. but where can i get this steel and how much ?
Local hardware store like Lowes and Home Depot (assuming you are in the states) else try local recycling facility, or scrap yard (cut the metal out of a fender or frame section on a junk car CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN and should be good.
I was wondering if I could share this in a group on Facebook? Need to get your permission first. Fantastic video btw.
Joshua Moffett I don't mind you sharing it as long as it's for good positive stuff and not for negative. I am aware I misspoke a couple times, so don't fault me on that. I'm no scientist that's for sure.
If you'd share where you want it to be posted I'd appreciate it. Thanks for watching and the comment.
fleanine no definitely not. Your video helped me tremendously. I'm etching enclosures for different things and your video was extremely helpful and I think it will be for others as well.
Joshua Moffett thanks! Glad its helped a few folks out. It's why I try to do these videos- and if I fail, I'll post that too, and hopefully save someone from doing the same. I appreciate it.
Does anyone know where I can get the vinyl stickers? Thanks if you respond!
Weaponmaster626 you can buy pretty cheap rolls of vinyl at signwarehouse.com, it's where I get mine, oracal vinyl is decent. You can get it anywhere you want... just a head start.
Thanks!!
Will it work on alluminium sheet also?
Yup! I would just do some testing first to figure out the voltage and times etc. to get the best result. Thanks for watching!
why does the power supply start at all 6's @5:38
sslother For some reason it just does that when powering up ... no reason in particular that I am aware of. Thanks for watching!
id junk it and get a different brand lol great video though thanks cant wait to try some etching
use what water and soak how many minutes sir ?
WB nonstop I have links in the description to a couple other more recent videos where I go through the actual recipe for the water/salt ratio and settings of voltage etc. thanks for watching!
@@fleanine oh yeah sorry I didn't see sir, greetings from Indonesia 🙏
Greetings to you! Thanks for coming by!
i like the name! toomanymorons. XD
So how long was the actual dip time
Hey there- thank you for watching, this was one of my older videos / I have a more recent one that talks about time etched and a little more accurate measurements etc. Please have a look : ua-cam.com/video/Jab0X2MuK5s/v-deo.html
Much appreciated!
@@fleanine thank you for the reply. Very informative and entertaining at the same time lol. Nice work. I'm just getting started and have created my own touchmark. Want to try it out and see got it looks. Very low tech here yet lol
what type of metal is???
Hello thanks for watching! the metal used in this video is just standard sheet metal commonly available in hardware stores, can buy in 12x18" sheets fairly inexpensively.
How much does it smell?
Andrew E the only real odor I noticed was the vinegar, which in hindsight is not necessary... it’s all a learning process.
Thanks for watching!
fleanine good news, aiming to do it indoors and don't want the complaints!
Andrew E there are supposedly some chemicals released during the process that are not good for you,( someone posted a link in my comments earlier) and if you are concerned id look into the process a bit more. I don’t do this *that* often so I don’t consider it a problem, and I did it in a fairly open kitchen and noticed no off gas whatsoever. No I’ll effects... it’s your call. Just throwing that out there to be responsible. Happy etching. Be safe.
fleanine ok ta, I'll give it a crack on a small scale keep my nose peeled. I know it's theoretically possible to actually create hydrogen & oxygen but you need voltages >12V to do that and it's rarely mentioned so probably isn't that easy to do . Beyond that I've not heard in any guides about noxious fumes. If it is the case and I want to do more i'll make some crude extractor. Cheers!
Bubbles to many bubbles if you got a bubble it won't etch hence your first try produced to many bubbles