Simple blade etching??

[davep90]

Is there a simple tried and tested meathod for etching say a logo or makers name/mark onto a carbon blade without the use of industrial acids etc?
im sure i have seen something somewhere before but cant find it now

[beach bum]

There should be a few threads on this


Firstly you will need the following items.

1.PP9 9 volt battery.
2.Battery connector.
3.2 Crocodile clips.
4.Cotton buds
5.Table salt
6.Water
7.Plastic bottle top.
8.Nail varnish
9.Needle

Method.

1.Clean metal surface, degrease, and leave to dry
2.Put a thin coat of nail varnish onto the metal surface and let it dry.
3.Place some salt and water into the plastic lid.
4.Connect the Positive (Red) battery lead to the metal with the crocodile clip.
5.Connect the Negative (Black) lead to the cotton bud with the crocodile clip.
6.Gently scratch the pattern onto the metal surface using a needle.
7.Dip the cotton bud into the salt water, then gently wipe the scratched surface with the wet cotton bud.

Note: The crocodile clip on the cotton bud must touch the wet bud. The cotton bud will start to go black as metal is removed. Stop every now and then and remove the blackened salt water so that you can see what you are doing.


Try it out on a piece of scrap first, it's really quite effective.


regards

beach bum

[Batmancaver]

Well I'll admit to being a little bit sceptical about this method. Surely etching metal requires more sophisticated equipment than a 9 volt battery, some wire, a cotton bud, some salty water and some nail varnish?

Nope, it blooming well works! Don't ask me why, I am not a chemist/physicist/metalurgist, but it does.

I did this etching last night. I am not the most skilled calligraphist or artist. I planned the design in Microsoft Word using different fonts and Clipart. I then scratched it into the nail varnish applied to an old Opinel blade. I did just as Beach Bum states and voila:



I would say that that is a very effective method, do you agree?

Thanks for that method Beach Bum, it certainly is going to be stored in my long term memory cells

Karl

[beach bum]

I think you have the makings of quite a good calligraphist nice job, innit good when something works.

regards

beach bum

[davep90]

Thats really good.
I just called at the local b n q for some crocky clips on way home but they dont sell um?
How long did you leave it for to make that kind of impression?
Dave

[Batmancaver]

Thanks for the compliments.
I kept applying the cotton bud and salt water and wiping it away until it looked right.
With hindsight the one main recommendation I could make is to not use black nail varnish ... it makes it hard to see the depth that you are etching to

I did not have any crocodile clips so I simply wrapped the negative wire tightly around the cotton bud and sellotaped the positive wire to the blade.

I have, however, purchased some crocodile clips for future use. I got them from Halfords. They were on their bits and pieces/fixings board, the section with lots of little packets of nut, bolts, fuses. etc. But you could also try some sort of electronic shop if you have a local one. Or try Maplin electronics.

Karl

[Motoon]

That worked out rather nicely for a first try

[ZDP-189]

I wonder if one could have a stamp made for resist?

[ZDP-189]

Also, how do the expensive kits do it and is there a way to DIY that to some extent?

[Gator68]

That looks like a neat and easy method.

I've done the same thing with the resist and then just use FeCl to etch. You get about the same result, maybe not quite as dark.

As I understand it, the "professional" etching machines use AC and DC. The AC etches down into the blade; the DC makes the black like you see with the battery. When you do this method you can sand over the etching without removing the black. Is there any depth to the etch with the 9V battery method?

Instead of a resist like varnish, people usually use a stencil. See here for suppliers (probably all US though.) With a stencil the trick is not to get the contact too wet. Just a little electrolyte does the trick. I salt water for the electrolyte too.

You can also get photosensitive resists -- I've never tried this.

[Batmancaver]

I found that the longer you applied the cotton bud for then the deeper the etch.

If you simply touch the cotton bud to the blade briefly then you got a light grey etch. Hold it onger and you get a deeper etch.

Presumerably if you held it there long enough and kept applying new salt solution then you would get a hole

Karl

[Batmancaver]

Additionally does anyone know whether these 'iron on transers' will work with this method?

http://www.norsewoodsmith.com/techni...g/etching1.htm

If no-one knows then I may have to buy some and give it a go?

Karl

[ZDP-189]

I've heard of the transfers being used for cutting out thin brass sheet. I seem to remember their being pretty expensive. Any got some spare or want to do a group buy?

[Batmancaver]

Maplin do 5 sheets for £15.52 + postage (online order only) therefore £3.70 per sheet
Techniks sell 20 sheets for $33 + international postage of $31.50 ! Therefore $3.25 per sheet or £1.64 per sheet

Karl

[mojofilter]

I have an inexplicable urge to do some strideresque tiger stripes with this method....