Metal Etching - How to
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- Опубліковано 28 сер 2024
- Metal Etching - How to
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Easy way to etch steel.
This video is an expanded 'How to' of the metal plate etching in my LM386 tybe amp video - check it out! • LM386 tube amp [homage]
This video shows you how to make an easy etching tool to etch steel, made out of a wire nail, some heat shrink tubing and a cotton wool pad.
The etching requires around 12volt 1amp provided by a wall plug transformer, mine was a little higher volts + amperage.
Please be careful as you use electricity and salt water with this technique. make sure that high voltage and water do not get mixed.
Make a stencil of your design, I use sticky backed vinyl and a Silhouette Cameo cutter plugged into my computer to accurately cut out the stencil.
Some electrical tape and a sharp knife will give good results if a little slower to cut the stencil.
Stick the stencil on the steel sheet.
Add some crocodile clips to the ends of the transformer wires.
Mix up some salt solution from table salt and water. I used hot water only to help the salt dissolve quicker.
The salt water acts to conduct the electricity from the etching tool to the metal allowing 'ion liberation' to take place.
Connect the transformer negative crocodile clip to the etching tool + the positive clip to the metal sheet.
Plug in the transformer.
Dip the cotton wool of the etching tool into the salt water and place onto the bare metal of the stencil.
The metal will start to sizzle and give off some smoke.
Etch in a well ventilated place and do not breathe in the smoke, it wont be good for you.
Move the etching tool to a new area of the stencil after a few seconds, dipping into the salt solution from time to time.
I went over the whole stencil about three times to give a good etch.
The surface will blacken up.
When done, unplug the transformer and unclip the metal sheet.
Wipe the black sludge off with a rag and clean out the etched area.
As I was making a name plate of the amp, I drilled a couple of fixing holes and cut the outer area to shape.
I wanted the etch to really stand out so spray painted the face black and when dried, sanded the front face leaving the black paint within the etched area.
Really pleased with the results.
Music -
80s Cop Show by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution licence (creativecommon...)
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Thanks for watching and please come back to watch some more.
Nice work, how much depth you can achieve by this technique
I was familiar for rust removal for rest removal, but hadn't considered the possibility of using it for etching. Nice videos, I just subscribed.
Cool...welcome to my channel
This is pretty awesome, I'm new to this and I was considering buying a car battery charger to start personalizing tools, but this looks a lot cheaper. You said "plug in at your own risk", does that mean it's dangerous? I don't know much about electricity, but I understand it's a shortcircuit you're creating there. But it's low voltage and amperage, what's the worst that could happen?
You could just bust the power supply unit , but since you can find them in any trash bin you're ok .
I just tried it with an old laptop charger that delivers 18V-4A , the power supply is equipped with a cutoff security so it just stops when the short circuit becomes too much to handle .
It works pretty fine and is hella fast , just work with respect for electricity and everything will be alright .
This is shot really well, the graphics are well done and you didn't use shitty stock music. honestly the fact that you don't at least 100k subs is proof to me that youtube is broken.
Thanks beadlebob- I have just passed 1000 subscribers which I am amazed at, there is a little thank you giveaway to one subscriber, check out my channel for the video. I hope for more subscribers in the future though there is so much content going up everyday that it is difficult to get traction, though if I keep on making interesting projects and keep the quality high, then maybe one day I might get there.
The music reminds me of Oxenfree. Cool video, I'm totally going to build this.
Thanks man! hope to try this on a titanium plate and see what happens. Trying to avoid using HF acid
let me how you get on...
HF, are you insane? Oo
Does this only work on steel, or will it work on other metals as well, such as brass, aluminum, or copper?
It works on Aluminium really well...I haven't tried any other metals, definitely worth giving it a go.
Why is the water yellow??!
Not sure?...maybe colour grading on the video...no special water, just regular tap!
@@Pricklysauce was wondering the same thing, might be worth pinning Nicks comment?
If you wanted to chromium plate the steel, would you do it before or after the metal etching?
I guess plate it after etching though I have no experience of this...let me know what works best
Can I use car battery charger as electric source. It have options like 12v/24v and start-boost / charging
Never seen it done like this before
Is that a AC/DC converting adaptor? I’m assuming it is, just want to make sure before I buy.. Thanks in advance
no idea...just an old electronics transformer outputting dc
Is there a way to make the etch a different color ?
How would I do this on larger items? Do you need more voltage?
Does it also work with brass?
sir, I went to a tarpaulin shop near our place. I asked if they have a vinyl stencil, and they said they only have vinyl stickers. Is it okay, sir?
Vinyl stencils are the one whose inner letter are removed ( for example if you need letter A to be etched the the remaining part & the small part in the "A" should be there while letter A whole should be removed that is stencil )
Could you not drill a hole I’m the Nail but the wire through before the shrink wrap?
Yes probably
Hi. Can I use this technique to reveal microstructure of the material?
I am afraid I don't understand what you are asking...sorry I can't help, though i guess if you do a search there will be someone who does know...good luck in your search
If you're talking about something like pattern welded metal or damascus (as some call it) to reveal patterns made in the forging process then no you can't as this would do the whole blade equally.
However you could use this to put your own unique patterns or designs onto the surface.
How does one make sure not to electrocute themselves doing this?
The heat shrink was a useless cool add on , 13v DC won't go threw your skin and I doubt the heat generated would even reach the part of the nail
I don't know what salt you maybe table salt but its too concentrated the left overs are a mess
Using weak acids would probably be better
Great video
Big thanks
I have tried this but every time the vinyl letters were removed from the metal!! And it was cleaned before with acetone.. is there a better quality of vinyl sticker ?
I just buy vinyl sheets with sticky backs in A4 size from Amazon, never had a problem. Maybe try not cleaning with acetone, I never do.
sauce thank you
I have heard, though I have not tried, warming up the metal before applying the stickers helps them stick better, though it makes them more difficult to remove.
Denatured alcohol is a very good cleaner / degreaser as is vinegar. Just a suggestion!
@@dolfinmagikpro thank you I will try that... until now I have no success with that.. same problem always..
Electrical tape
Thanks man!!! U r awesome
best bitumen diluted a bit in gasoline, paint over, dry and scratch the pattern, letters, it is possible under a microscope, and etch ....
cool...thanks
Awsm thanks for the info
no worries...
amazing bro😎😎😎
cool thanks
Thanks PayWay, hope it is useful for you, it really is straight forward and the results are great.
can i use Zinc Alloy?
Not sure, I think the zinc might be particularly toxic, you will need t do some more research...let us know what you find out