Into Etching I Go

Etching Metal

Hand Drawn Bubbles With a Black Sharpie

It is always nice to cross something off that has been on your bucket list for awhile.  I think I had these etching materials for 6 months before I pulled them out.

You can see some of my ingredients above.  

*Ferric Chloride  - from Radio Shack: Etchant, will work on copper brass and nickel silver NOT on aluminum, fine silver or sterling. (fyi nickel silver takes longer to etch)

*Baking Soda -  as a neutralizing agent

*Metal cleaner -   Sculpt Nouveau : Metal Cleaner Degreaser, Barkeepers Friends or Penny Brite. Barkeepers Friend is great and you can find it at your local Target.

*Baking Soda - Neutralizer

*Green Scrubbies - Metal Cleaning you can get at Target

*Plasic or Glass containers - 1 for the Ferric Chloride & 1 for the Baking Soda and Water.

* StazOn Stamp Ink pad,  Sharpie Black Marker or Toner Transfer - There are other resists you can use also.

*Gloves

*Packing Tape, Duct Tape or Painters Tape - There are others tapes you can use to. 

Etched with a StazOn Ink and a Stamp.  Vintaj Patinas.

1.  First thing clean your copper using Barkeepers Friend or  what I have here is Metal Cleaner Degreaser from Sculpt Nouveau.  Use your green scrubby pads.  They are fabulous. Skin oils can act as a resist.  You don't want your finger prints to etch the metal.

2.  Draw your design using a black sharpie or a stamp using StazOn black stamping ink.  Try to prevent to much handling of the metal, make sure your hands are washed and degreased at least. Above I used this stamp with StazOn Ink for my resist.

3.  Pour the Ferric Chloride in a plastic tub or glass as you can see 3/4 - 1 inch.  You will tape the back sides of the metal with the facing side you want etched down in the solution. I have also seen people use foam as a float and your metal taped to that.  I actually think this would be a less sloppy way to do it.  Tape or use your sharpie for any areas you do not want the etching process. You can see the tape on either side of the plastic.  I etched this for 1 hour & 15 minutes.  I think you can etch it in less time but I wanted a good etch for this. You can accelerate the etching time by adding Citric Acid from the grocery, but this is not necessary.

This one was done Etched using StazOn Ink as a resist.

4. You can check your etching just pull up the tape back.  If you make the floats as stated above that would make the checking really easy.  I wear gloves when I do this.  When done, do use and scrub in the Baking Soda Solution to neutralize and stop the Etching.  

When you are done clean your metal with your metal cleaner.  You can now use your designs as is or patina them as you wish.  Here are a few of the ones I have etched and added patinas below.

Abstract Koi Fish - Hand Drawn with Black Sharpie

Modern Victorian Chic Bracelet 

Made this on for the Bead Soup Block Party 7

Traveler Bracelet

  

Now just make some fabulous jewelry and cross etching off your bucket list.  

It is easy and addicting.