A couple of Etch questions.....

[Kentucky]

I have a couple of questions about etching..I did a search but didnt get the answer I was looking for..I found a 12V AC power supply to darken our mark with after etching with a 12V DC power supply..I dont have a problem getting a good etch with the DC, well one small problembut ill get to that in a minute..
* First question..when you blacken the mark with the AC if your not careful when cleaning the etch you can rub some of the black right out of the mark...The mark looks deep enough? maybe its not?
Ok, I am using saltwater but am making an order from Tracy..Im going to go ahead and order a bottle of Electrolyte 94...I have been using cotton Q-tips..Would a regular hand marker be better? Do you think the Electrolyte 94 will help darken the etch better? Is there something else i should be looking at?
Another question...I dont use much salt water(dab the q-tip mostly dry) but still get some halo effect around the etch that has to be sanded off..Will the Electrolyte 94 help solve this problem?
Any help.comments appreciated..Thanks

 

[Kentucky]

Also Id like to ask, what about a model train transformer? If I have seen them with both AC and DC built in and are adjustable up to about 18V's on DC? With 18V output on AC Seems like that may work great? Correct me if im wrong please..

 

[Atlas Knife Company]

The electrolyte will give a better etch, no doubt about that. TSP will also work better. The reason we use salt is because of it's availability. Hand marker, q-tips, from my understanding, it shouldn't make much difference. It's merely a way to get an electrode into the electrolyte without directly touching the metal with the electrode. You could put a drop of electrolyte on the blade and touch the electrode to the electrolyte without a q-tip or marker and still get results. However, if the electrode directly touches the blade, you will move from etching to welding and that's not a good thing. I've used paper towels, q-tips, cotton balls, cotton make-up pads and paint brushes. They all accomplish the same task, but I find q-tips easiest to use.

 

[Patrickknives]

I have not noticed any diffenence between factory solutions and a salt solution with a touch of TSP, could be one that works better than another but I have not seen it. I think the halo is still using too wet of a qtip. I only use the qtip for touch up, for the primary etch I use a pad from a adsorbant towel (the kind they sell on TV).

 

[Atlas Knife Company]

I have not noticed any diffenence between factory solutions and a salt solution with a touch of TSP, could be one that works better than another but I have not seen it. I think the halo is still using too wet of a qtip. I only use the qtip for touch up, for the primary etch I use a pad from a adsorbant towel (the kind they sell on TV).

Are you claiming that your pad is Sham-Tastic? How well does a sham-wow hold up as an etching pad?