Difference between revisions of "Etching"
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=Salt-water etching= | =Salt-water etching= | ||
===Equipment and supplies=== | ===Equipment and supplies=== | ||
− | ; Clear jar with wide opening (e.g. pickle jar) deep enough to submerge your piece vertically | + | ; *Clear jar with wide opening (e.g. pickle jar) deep enough to submerge your piece vertically |
− | ; Salt | + | ; Salt (don't use salt that has anti-caking agent) |
; Water (Distilled, preferred) | ; Water (Distilled, preferred) | ||
; Copper wire - 16g, 2 ft. | ; Copper wire - 16g, 2 ft. |
Revision as of 14:06, 16 October 2017
Etching is a method of removing exposed metal and retaining protected metal from a surface so as to create a design or texture. In our shop, we accomplish that with non-ferrous metals in one of two ways, both of which use a etching bath (mordant), a pattern that adheres to and protects the metal surface (resist), and a source of electrical current to initiate a chemical reaction. Parts of the metal are covered and protected by the "resist", while the exposed parts are eaten away by the electric current to reveal a design.
The Jewelry and Metal Craft Shop currently supports two methods of etching non-ferrous metals: electro-etching and salt-water etching.
Contents
Electro-etching
Equipment and supplies
- Etchant (mordant) - Copper Sulfate (egg,, "Root Kill"),
- Plastic container,
- Electric current source (e.g., manual battery charger, Rectifying power supply) with leads/clips
- Copper wire ~ 16 g
- copper or brass sheet
- 3M green scrubby pads,
- brass brush
- duct or packing tape
Procedure
- Forthcoming
Salt-water etching
Equipment and supplies
- *Clear jar with wide opening (e.g. pickle jar) deep enough to submerge your piece vertically
- Salt (don't use salt that has anti-caking agent)
- Water (Distilled, preferred)
- Copper wire - 16g, 2 ft.
- Pliers
- Drill with 1/16” bit or metal punch
- Oil paint pen or PNP paper, (optional)
- Metal sheet - brass, bronze, copper
- Timer
- Hard, very flat surface, heat-resistant
- Sheet of paper folded
- Iron
- Laser printer (uses toner, not ink) if printing to PNP paper. Note
- Brother laser printers do not work.
- Battery one or two "D" cells, with battery holder and wire clips
Procedure
- Forthcoming