Electro etching BK7

[knoefz]

After seeing Xr6x etching his Globetrotter this way I got inspired.
In the past I've used chemicals to etch logo's a bit deeper but this looked less messy and easier.

Here's my logo before:

My setup, 30 volt 2.5 amp dc power, some croc clamps and a metal plate bend around a piece of wood, cotton pads attached with a rubber band. Soaked the cotton in a water, salt, vinegar mixture:

Then the process:

Very happy with the end result:

Now I need and AC adapter to blacken the logo's... haven't found one yet.

 

[Xr6x]

Wow! That's the Magnum Setup looks Great

 

[91bravo]

Looks good knoefz!

 

[DerekH]

Very cool!

 

[The Warrior]

Nice work man.

 

[91bravo]

So what was the total etching time to get it that deep?

 

[knoefz]

Wow! That's the Magnum Setup looks Great

Thanks... ha.... even my girlfriend said the setup was impressive when she helped withbthe pictures.

 

[knoefz]

So what was the total etching time to get it that deep?

Didn't time it... a few minutes.... Max 3 per side but probably less. I pauzed and rinsed rhe black dirt of a few times to see what's going on.

 

[91bravo]

Cool, I'm gonna have to try this soon. I don't have a power supply, but I do have a few 9v batteries and wire laying around.

 

[knoefz]

Cool, I'm gonna have to try this soon. I don't have a power supply, but I do have a few 9v batteries and wire laying around.

Looking forward to your pics.

 

[Xr6x]

Cool, I'm gonna have to try this soon. I don't have a power supply, but I do have a few 9v batteries and wire laying around.

The 9 volt will work just fine it's all I ever used and I've done several now but if I had knofez setup I for sure would use it instead here's a pic of my 10 also done with just the 9 volt
View attachment 851430
I just wipe black paint in the logo, AC voltage to blacken it kinda scares me

 

[Tanker 1/66]

Cool, I'm gonna have to try this soon. I don't have a power supply, but I do have a few 9v batteries and wire laying around.

I use a 12vdc power supply from an old Dell computer works great bravo

 

[Tanker 1/66]

Great job knoefz 30vdc makes some serious smoke doesn't it lol

 

[Tanker 1/66]

Hmmmm I wonder???? Variable power supply for a Lionel train.

 

[knoefz]

I

Hmmmm I wonder???? Variable power supply for a Lionel train.

Gave away all my train stuff from when I was a kid. Those are ac iirc? Great idea !

 

[Gun Doc]

I suspect a lot of you have a 12V battery charger around the house. Those should work pretty well. I have used a 12V charger in a bath with washing powder to de-rust things. Similar concept.

 

[Xr6x]

Great job knoefz 30vdc makes some serious smoke doesn't it lol

Knoefz doesn't fool around

 

[knoefz]

Great job knoefz 30vdc makes some serious smoke doesn't it lol

I especially enjoyed the bubbles forming a black foam

 

[91bravo]

I'm gonna daisychain a few 9v cells together when I etch. I assume the more voltage, the faster the etch?

 

[Tanker 1/66]

I'm gonna daisychain a few 9v cells together when I etch. I assume the more voltage, the faster the etch?

Just be careful of washing out the original etch with the higher voltage. Kinda like a pixel on a picture when you enlarge it.