Etcher Question

Good Idea but you need a AC power output to get the dark etch. I dont used the DC at all. I did build mine from radio shack parts and its works great. I am getting the best mark I have ever got. You could see if you could bypass the bridge rectifier for a ac output on that unit.
 
I like your mark, I have to spend some time to work on the deep. Mine get fuzzy on the edge pretty quickly but did work out the bugs in the dark etch. Seems like this machine could be used for the deep etch.
 
I used a DC current to night on these two knives the image is blurry from the photo the etch came out great so I am going to try the DC Converter and order the other parts online.

here is the etch i did with the DC.
etch1.jpg

etch2.jpg
 
That dc marker from Rat Shack should have a bridge rectifier in it and if you tapped on to the 2 AC leads to the rectifier you would have the whole package.

Seems to me the simplest way to get an etcher would be go to the pawn shop and buy a small 12 volt battery charger and add a 2 position double throw switch internally connect the DC outputs to one set of outter legs of the switch and the output leads to the commons of the switch and then tap onto the ac between the transformer outputs and the rectifier and connect those to the other set of switch legs. You would then have a AC DC 12 volt source for the cost of a switch and a pawn shop charger, Just need an etch pad.
 
ib2v4u said:
That dc marker from Rat Shack should have a bridge rectifier in it and if you tapped on to the 2 AC leads to the rectifier you would have the whole package.

Seems to me the simplest way to get an etcher would be go to the pawn shop and buy a small 12 volt battery charger and add a 2 position double throw switch internally connect the DC outputs to one set of outter legs of the switch and the output leads to the commons of the switch and then tap onto the ac between the transformer outputs and the rectifier and connect those to the other set of switch legs. You would then have a AC DC 12 volt source for the cost of a switch and a pawn shop charger, Just need an etch pad.
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LOL Bud what you just said went so far over my head it aint funny. I didnt know they had rectifier's hhmmm and without intestins wonder what they push out their rectifier. LOL

I am no good with electronics.
 
Larry Hensley said:
LOL Bud what you just said went so far over my head it aint funny. I didnt know they had rectifier's hhmmm and without intestins wonder what they push out their rectifier. LOL

I am no good with electronics.
Click to expand...

Larry remind me not to let you work on my Television. :D
 
A rectifier is what makes the AC into DC. We use AC in our houses as it can be stepped up and down with transformers. They can sent 10,000 volts of AC at 5 amps to the transformer at your house and step it down to 220 and have about 200 amps for your home. If they sent everyone 220 from the power plant to the house the wires need to carry the amperage would be several yards in diameter. Wire's carrying capacity is in amps. The same wire that can handle 20 amps of 110 volts will carry 20 amps of 100,000 volts as long as the insulation holds up. 220 is 2 legs of 110 that oppose each other. In an etcher or a charger there is some form of small transformer that steps the 110 to 12 volts. The wires in these transformers are usually pretty thin and that keeps the amperage low. To convert the AC to DC (like battery electricity) they usually use a rectifier which is like an arrangement of check valves that will only allow the electricity to flow one way. I made my own etcher and used to make my own circuit boards as a hobby before the knife bug bit me hard. Jim
 
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