Electrolyte for etching stainless steel

Certainly got deep in there, didn't it? :)

Picture taking tip: Use the macro setting (looks like a flower) with good natural light for those close up shots.
 
:) Yeah it really did, I had no frame of refferance as to how long it would take...
I was impressed! As for the pictures, I'm not sure if my cell phone has a macro setting.
It's the only camera I have readily available. My buddy has an awesome panasonic(?) camera that has just about every bell and wistle possible on it.

Once I get started with the hard work stuff (hopefully I'll have a forge up and running sometime this spring) He said He'd shoot any pic's I need.

Well, gotta head in to work, Thanks for the input everyone! Kind of the "whole Village to raise a child" kind of thing. I think I like it!

Much respect
 
I just wanted to thank you for posting this thread. I hadn't thought about making my own etcher until I read this. I have a couple of filtered and regulated power supplies for ham radio rated @ 13.8 v dc, 15 amps. I simply put some leads on the terminals and alligator clamps and used q-tips as stated earlier with some salt water and electrical tape just to try it with. It worked beautifully on a scrap of BG42 I had, so now all I need to do it get me some good stencil material so that I can make some real stencils and I'm set to go.
There's not single time that I read this forum, that I don't learn something. I have been in several forums but BladeForums.com is by far the best so far.
 
So what is the best recipe for a DIY electrolyte for stainless steel?
I just put together a etching machine (12.6v) and have no idea what to use to etch stainless like 440a or 440HC.

I saw some posts saying that saltwater does indeed work, but nothing seemed concise.

Should I use white vinegar and salt? What concentrations?
 
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