Building a Etching machine

[AcridSaint]

I was going to drop this thread, but I want to say that I agree with Phil's post above. There's something to be said for expecting people to do their own due diligence, but at the end of the day, I think we want the information that we hand out to be the most accurate, complete and safe.

There probably isn't a single person on this thread who's going to head out to the library or run down to the college to verify our info. About 75% will probably actually go out and read some info on other web sites, the rest will likely just take the info here at face value. Since every place on the internet can take the same stance that some here want to take, "just use common sense" we may well be endangering people by not giving them the whole picture. There is such a thing as common sense, but there is also something called common industry knowledge. When you do things day in and day out, sometimes the line gets a little blurry and the things we consider common sense are far from it.

There are plenty of people on the internet that I don't care about or care for, but I still don't want to think that a safety detail I forgot is the reason they died. If I give some dangerous advice, I'll happily invite other members to point it out. There's no reason to get defensive over that.

If you choose to "act stupid" then so be it, but the only way you can make a "choice" is if all of the options are out on the table.

 

[Dan Gray]

Everything us knifemakers do is dangerous, from start, to finish.
Even our end product can be dangerous....

Darwinian theory dictates that those not smart enough to educate themselves about the dangers around them, and mitigate the risk, get weeded out.
It makes the species stronger.

you are a bit scary if you believe that..and don't see anything wrong with it JMHO here

that would mean my wife would have be dead along time ago or I would have never met her, that would have been a sad thing, though I would not have known the differance right ?

as far as I'm concerned that was one mans opinions Darwinian could have stuck it when he said that instead of someone writing that down..
Hitler and him would have been great friends maybe,, think about this..
are you blonde and blue eyed? if so you would have been safe from Hitler

I like to think I have a lot of common since and everyone has it, until I met my wife I would NOT have believed anyone could have such a lack of it and still survive this world , she has a Masters deg so education and common sense is of a different beast to a degree or two.. kids can have it or not
it depends mainly on their up bringing mostly if they don't get it early in life chances are it's not going to happen for them. I've been with her over 30 years and I don't see it happening to soon god love her she is a sheep to be lead.. .. still IMHO..

AcridSaint you are lot better with words than I am, for sure..

as far as salt being used for etching like in J's picture sure use it, any thing to make electricity flow through water better will work but the safer it is the better also..
try some TSP also that will work also not saying salt is unsafe I'm just offering another thing you all can use to make electrolyte..

 

[JTknives]

man my last post was like text book throwup

 

[Fellhoelter]

Politely bowing out of this thread now....
We went from etchers to Hitler in a mere 62 posts...
A thread on etching machines should not turn into this...

Take it from this brown haired, brown eyed mutt, that I meant no offence.

Originally, I was trying to be helpful by posting a link to what I find to be a useful tool, just as Spencer did.
I hope I have learned my lesson.

 

[SteelSlaver]

I now know how to built my etcher, I already knew Hitler was an ass and that many people haven't got the sense God gave a goose and people sue for anything. I would think that if I sued some one over content in the internet someone on the jury would have enough sense to say this moron thinks everything he reads on the net is safe? What a dill wad.

 

[Dan Gray]

I guess this could be looked at as insult to injury but not meant that way..
an I should just not say anything else.. but.. then I'm done..

I would think that if I sued some one over content in the internet someone on the jury would have enough sense to say this moron thinks everything he reads on the net is safe? What a dill wad.

and that is why we need lawyers today I guess .. it's a shame for sure
Spencer I wished you didn't change the first post, it's a shame you felt you had to..
You don't think your opinion counts? FYI it does..

Take it from this brown haired, brown eyed mutt, that I meant no offence.
Originally, I was trying to be helpful by posting a link to what I find to be a useful tool, just as Spencer did.
I hope I have learned my lesson.

well I for one I'm not offended and if you look l made that site with the link in the sticky.
nothing wrong with helping with your input and it does..
KnifeWerks
tools are tools, there is nothing wrong with posting them or ideas on them
and anyone's thoughts should be welcome, I'm not sure why you changed your #7 post
these forums are for just that..to learn from one another , there is good content in this thread to use, it's still there, believe it or not a lot of good came from it.. over and above the topic..
I do hope it's worth the read, I know some guys think it's not because some safety thinking was added.. and some metaphors I seemed to have needed for understanding me..
again just my opinion as always....

 

[Pelallito]

Thanks to SAR and Chris Crawford for the tutorial and advice. :thumbup:I followed the instrucions and double checked every step before proceeding to the next. The machine works great. The only problem I ran into was generating enough heat to solder some of the connections. I also had trouble keepig everything still to solder the wires to the bridge rectifier. But after a few apropriate words mumbled at the soldering gun, everything stuck together. I did add heat shrink to all exposed connections as an added safety precaution.
Thanks to all, and be careful.
Regards,
Fred

 

[Kindyr]

Pelallito
can you tell me what material you etched, what you used as your electolyte solution and how long you left the etcher on the metal?

 

[SAR]

Thanks to SAR and Chris Crawford for the tutorial and advice. :thumbup:I followed the instrucions and double checked every step before proceeding to the next. The machine works great. The only problem I ran into was generating enough heat to solder some of the connections. I also had trouble keepig everything still to solder the wires to the bridge rectifier. But after a few apropriate words mumbled at the soldering gun, everything stuck together. I did add heat shrink to all exposed connections as an added safety precaution.
Thanks to all, and be careful.
Regards,
Fred

Hey Fred great job, the heat shrink is great stuff and makes everything nice and clean. If you can maybe post a pic of your handy work, I like seeing stuff like this.

Dan..... you know its been a strange thread and everything and anything is possible not worth the risk or even the smallest amount of headache. I did start a thread asking if you would change the title of the link with all the tutorials it really is quite hidden, I have had folks asking me lately where all the tutorials are and have to guide them there?

 

[Fellhoelter]

I'm not sure why you changed your #7 post

Knee jerk reaction...
Sort of...
Talk of lawsuits and electrocution made me think folks should buy prefab units instead of making their own like some of us have...

 

[Dan Gray]

Hey Fred great job, the heat shrink is great stuff and makes everything nice and clean. If you can maybe post a pic of your handy work, I like seeing stuff like this.

Dan..... you know its been a strange thread and everything and anything is possible not worth the risk or even the smallest amount of headache. I did start a thread asking if you would change the title of the link with all the tutorials it really is quite hidden, I have had folks asking me lately where all the tutorials are and have to guide them there?

thanks I'll see if I can do that I have to go pick up little woman right now.. I'm missing a lot of threads latly,,

I really need to clean the whole thing up also.. I have a way of hacking up those things because of a lack of time.. maybe I should spend less time here up-setting the guys

Werks I'd put it back up what the hell :thumbup:

 

[Pelallito]

Kindyr,
I etched the handle area of a small skinner that I am making out of O-1 that is unhardened. Since It was a quick test, I did not want to mark an area that would be seen. I first tried plain water and got nowhere. Then I got some salt and added it to the water and stirred it up. I took no measurements. As soon as I applied the soaked pad to the piece and touched it with the ground wire I saw a small spark. After a couple of seconds, I could see the liquid boiling. I would lift the pad after a two to three second count and would rewet it when it looked or acted as if it were drying. I did this multiple times as I admired the process. I don't know what the correct procedure should be, as I was experimenting. I want to order some electrolyte, cleaner and stencil material to continue experimenting. The salt water mix left some dark residue on the surrounding area that I probably should have cleaned off immediately.
Spencer,
As soon as I can rescue my camera from my daughter, I will try to post pictures. Is there a sticky here on how to post pictures? Do I have to have a minimum number og posts to qualify?
Thanks again to all.
Fred