Electro-etching Metal Using a Stick On Label

[rgsparber]

This video shows how I use salt water, a power supply, and a stick on label to mark aluminum and steel. This procedure should be done in a well-ventilated room or outside.

If you are interested, please see

Your comments are welcome. All of us are smarter than any one of us.


Thanks,

Rick

[DIYer]

Thanks rgsparber! We've added your Electro Etching Method to our Miscellaneous category,
as well as to your builder page: rgsparber's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Electro Etching Method by rgsparber

tags: etching

[Suttmike1]

This video shows how I use salt water, a power supply, and a stick on label to mark aluminum and steel. This procedure should be done in a well-ventilated room or outside.

If you are interested, please see

Your comments are welcome. All of us are smarter than any one of us.


Thanks,

Rick

Hey Rick, I’ve tried doing this but I had my electrodes backwards. Would you say that that would make a difference or do you need to do it with them the way you did it. Also if you used a material specific electrolytes as your medium, do you think the results may be deeper or not?

Thanks,
Mike S.

[rgsparber]

Hey Rick, I’ve tried doing this but I had my electrodes backwards. Would you say that that would make a difference or do you need to do it with them the way you did it. Also if you used a material specific electrolytes as your medium, do you think the results may be deeper or not?

Thanks,
Mike S.

Mike,

The polarity is critical. The target metal must be positive relative to the salt water soaked Q-tip.

I have not tried different electrolytes but would very interested to know of liquids that would cut deeper into aluminum and also steel.

Rick

[Suttmike1]

I do understand that in the commercial electric etching provides electrolytes for the base metal you are etching. I’ll get some and try it. It has to work better or why would they include them in the kits?? Thanks for the reply. I’ll switch my electrodes and see if that makes a difference for me. What voltage are you using and are you using a power supply or batteries?

Thanks,
Michael

[rgsparber]

I do understand that in the commercial electric etching provides electrolytes for the base metal you are etching. I’ll get some and try it. It has to work better or why would they include them in the kits?? Thanks for the reply. I’ll switch my electrodes and see if that makes a difference for me. What voltage are you using and are you using a power supply or batteries?

Thanks,
Michael

Michael,

I'm using a 20V at up to 2 amps power supply. Be very careful using batteries that can put out more than that. For example, do not use a car battery.

Rick

[bobs409]

I'm going to try this! I have a vinyl cutter so making templates is a breeze!

Thanks for sharing!

[rgsparber]

Sounds very promising. Please keep us posted.

Rick

[kess]

Hi rgsparber,

I have tried different ways for the making of electrode.
A good one for me it was a piece of stainless steel rod a spring from pen a piece from cigarette filter and pvc tape.
But not the best, so later I replaced the filter with a piece of felt, which is more stable and has much longer lifetime before its polymerization begins.

[aussie]

If you can source AC after etching with DC it will darken the metal. In order to achieve this you would just have to run some wires of the transformer you are using prior to the diodes in your power supply.