Recommendation? Are Professional Etching Electrolytes Worth It?

[SLC_Blades]

Hey everyone! I finally got a stencil professionally made for etching my maker’s mark and I’m loving the results. I’ve been using the standard salt water with a splash of vinegar as my electrolyte as well as windex as a neutralizer.

I’ve been looking at the professional chemicals that etching companies sell and I’m not sure if they’re worth buying due to my current setup producing pretty damn good results. Can anyone speak to their performance in comparison to homemade electrolytes?

Thanks!

 

[Jason Fry]

I've been using the same bottle of the USA Knifemaker etching fluid for at least 7 years. No complaints. For $10 a bottle, won't be long before I'm down to $1 per year. No point in "saving money" with home brew in this case, IMO.

 

[Drew Riley]

I recently grabbed a bottle of some kind of basic electrolyte from TUS, just to see if I noticed any difference. It did leave a very clean mark, but I should also add that I normally just fill a solo cup with hot water and dump a load of iodized salt in until the water clouds up, so it's not scientific by any stretch. I imagine the "over the counter" solutions will be a little more consistent, if anything else, unless you actually measure your salt (or sodium bicarbonate, or tsp, or whatever) and your water (or vinegar, etc....)

That said, if you're getting good results from a home brew setup, I wouldn't worry too much about buying a pre-mix, but that's just me. Maybe somebody else has a little more insight? For all I know, the bottles you buy from a supplier are nothing more than a mix of salt and distilled water anyway.

 

[wayneblocker5369]

Sorry, don't know about home stuff but hear that people have good results. I was just wondering about your stencil,. I posted a question about were to get one made. Just wanted to know because I never had any replies, thanks,. Wayne

 

[jdm61]

LOL. I thought that I was the only one. I bought the "big bottle" when I tipped over the 2 oz small bottle of the "made for carbon steel" solution that came with the Personalizer like 10 plus years ago one time too many. Since then I have used the stuff on carbon steel, carbon damascus, AEB-L and CPM 3V. No need for separate recipes for me and it hasn't gone bad yet. Still have like 1/4 of a bottle left.

I've been using the same bottle of the USA Knifemaker etching fluid for at least 7 years. No complaints. For $10 a bottle, won't be long before I'm down to $1 per year. No point in "saving money" with home brew in this case, IMO.

 

[Drew Riley]

Sorry, don't know about home stuff but hear that people have good results. I was just wondering about your stencil,. I posted a question about were to get one made. Just wanted to know because I never had any replies, thanks,. Wayne

I'm not the OP, but I've used T.U.S. a number of times. The initial setup cost is a little pricey (though honestly it's about in line with what a full sheet of stencils costs anywhere else now days), but to have reprints of the same setup later (usually MUCH later) is around 1/3 or even 1/4 of the cost IIRC.

A lot of guys around here also like IMG-Electromark.

 

[wayneblocker5369]

Thanks Drew, I will be looking into both of them.

 

[LARRYZ10]

Call Patriciua at IMG in New York and ask for a quart of #94. It will last your career. More important is to get your timing down at what setting for AC and Dc to get a nice dark etch. Larry

 

[wayneblocker5369]

Thanks everyone, I talked to her this afternoon, she was very helpful. Will be placing an order very soon. Thanks again. Wayne