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 (don't use salt that has anti-caking agent)
+
: 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.
; Pliers
+
: Pliers
; Drill with 1/16” bit or metal punch
+
: Drill with 1/16” bit or metal punch
; Oil paint pen or PNP paper, (optional)
+
: Oil paint pen or PNP paper, (optional)
; Metal sheet - brass, bronze, copper
+
: Metal sheet - brass, bronze, copper
; Timer
+
: Timer
; Hard, very flat surface, heat-resistant
+
: Hard, very flat surface, heat-resistant
; Sheet of paper folded
+
: Sheet of paper folded
; Iron
+
: Iron (household. They actually do still exist.)
; Laser printer (uses toner, not ink) if printing to PNP paper. Note: Brother laser printers do not work.
+
: 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
+
: Battery one or two "D" cells, with battery holder and wire clips
  
 
===Procedure===
 
===Procedure===
 
;Forthcoming
 
;Forthcoming

Revision as of 14:11, 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.

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 (household. They actually do still exist.)
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