PPD Ltd front page. Painting Brass | Model Engineer. Nontoxic paint + print resource | 'Nontoxic' Printmaking & Printing | Safer Painting and Paints. Dip Tanks for EtchingDue to its generous volume of solution and vigorous agitation, a dip tank represents the best facility for the mechanical removal of the crystalline sediments that ferric chloride generates as it etches. Larger tanks can be custom made by most acid unit manufacturers (or plastics fabricating companies), preferably from welded polypropylene. For home use and smaller scale work, even a square bucket or plastic crate will make a very serviceable etching tank, especially if fitted with an agitation pump. Dip tank at RIT: Many print studios have customized dip tanks for etching. AerationTo agitate the etch solution; one or several tubes of fish tank airline can be fitted to a dip tank.
The air outlets should point upward and be connected to a powerful fish tank aeration pump. The stream of bubbles rising on the sides of the tank produces a circular flow within the solution which activates the etch. The Chemistry of Ferric Chloride. Etching. Electrolytic etching uses electricity, and a solution usually based on the type of metal you want to etch. You attach the positive side of the current to your piece, and the negative side to a piece of the same metal. When the electricity flows, it causes metal from your piece to flow through the solution toward the metal on the negative side. The more metal in the solution, the faster your piece will etch. I originally learned the process of electrolytic etching back in early 2009 in a class taught by David S.
Dowling, who does some amazing work. I am by no means an expert etcher. Note: You can click almost any picture to see a larger version of it. Copper Sulfate (or Root Kill, which you can get at a garden or hardware store) A copper pipe or sheet or any piece of copper that is somewhat large copper, brass, or nickel silver sheet Iron Sulfate. Cupric Nitrate for sterling or fine silver – you can get this online from various chemical companies. A plastic bucket (not metal!) Brass Etching for Beginners. Etching for Beginners Return to Nigel Lawton 009 home page Nigel Lawton: 3,507 Words Version 5 There have been many articles written on this subject covering the process of photo-etching, however I would like to describe how I have made use of a different technique which makes the whole process of home etching a much easier undertaking as it does NOT require any photographic steps.
The set-up cost for this part of my method is therefore much lower and making my own etching tank from readily available materials has kept the overall costs very low. The basis of etching is to selectively coat some thin brass or nickel-silver sheet with 'etch resist' then immerse it in a chemical that dissolves the exposed metal via a chemical reaction. 1. 2. I will deal with these in two separate sections. The Etch Resist The method I am using to apply resist is known as the ‘toner transfer’ method. 1. 2. 3. Figure 1 - Outline shape of item to be made by etching. Brass and Paint | Model Engineer.