Etching........ AC or DC?

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eminart

Joined
Mar 19, 2009
Messages
39
Yes, I've searched and googled and read and contemplated....... now I'm coming to ask you guys another newbie question.

What kind of power supply should I use to etch steel? DC obviously works because most of the etching tutorials I've read seem to use that, but will AC also work? I don't know much about electronics, but I have some old cell phone chargers and things like that laying around. I was wondering if I could use one of those. They all seem to have an output of around 5V.
 
I'm guessing you are talking about etching your name or logo into a blade with a stencil.

In order to get a clean crisp mark, you need to use both AC and DC. You first use DC (reverse polarity) to "remove metal from the blade through the stencil). You then use AC to "remove a little and put a little back". This is what makes your logo "black". Think Alternating current (goes both ways).

If you want to try building one yourself, there is a good tutorial HERE. You can get everything you need (except for the stencils) at your local Radio Shack.

I might add that I have helped a few makers build these, and they seem to work better using the 12 volt leg of the transformer rather than the 24 volt leg.

If I misread your post, I apologize.

Robert
 
Robert Dark said:
I'm guessing you are talking about etching your name or logo into a blade with a stencil.

In order to get a clean crisp mark, you need to use both AC and DC. You first use DC (reverse polarity) to "remove metal from the blade through the stencil). You then use AC to "remove a little and put a little back". This is what makes your logo "black". Think Alternating current (goes both ways).

If you want to try building one yourself, there is a good tutorial HERE. You can get everything you need (except for the stencils) at your local Radio Shack.

I might add that I have helped a few makers build these, and they seem to work better using the 12 volt leg of the transformer rather than the 24 volt leg.

If I misread your post, I apologize.

Robert
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Nope, you didn't misread, that's what I was asking. So to do it right, I need AC/DC to put a little "Back in Black"? :jerkit: Yeah yeah, I'm hilarious.

When you say "first use DC, reverse polarity" what exactly do you mean mean by "reverse polarity"? You mean ground the + to the blade and work with the - lead?

Edit* Ok, after reading through the link you provided (thanks by the way) I believe the "reverse polarity" is something completly different. That looks like a pretty easy build, but I was hoping to throw something together from stuff I have laying around. Looks like I'll have to go buy stuff now. My wife will be thrilled. I told her my NEW hobby was going to be almost free. Hahahahahahahhahahaha
 
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If you build the etcher according to the plans I listed, your "ground" cable (the alligator clip that you place on your blade) will actually be the positive side of the DC circuit and your "work piece", the part you put on the stencil will be the "negative" side. (I think I got that right)

DC flows in one direction and AC flows in both directions (back and forth at roughly 60 cycles per second)

I am not an "electrical engineer", but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night.:D

Hopefully, some of our gang with more knowledge than I will step up and explain the theory better than I can.

Robert
 
Robert Dark said:
If you build the etcher according to the plans I listed, your "ground" cable (the alligator clip that you place on your blade) will actually be the positive side of the DC circuit and your "work piece", the part you put on the stencil will be the "negative" side. (I think I got that right)

DC flows in one direction and AC flows in both directions (back and forth at roughly 60 cycles per second)

I am not an "electrical engineer", but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night.:D

Hopefully, some of our gang with more knowledge than I will step up and explain the theory better than I can.

Robert
Click to expand...

You know the sad thing is that I build electronic circuit boards for one of the most reputable telecommunications companies in the world - yet I know nothing about about electronics. :D I just run the machines. Our engineers have all the electronics know-how (in theory anyway).

But, you did a pretty good job of clearing it up for me. I need to build something that can switch between AC and DC. I think that's where the bridge rectifier in the plans comes in. Maybe I can find one laying in the floor at work. :)

Thanks a lot.
 
eminart said:
My wife will be thrilled. I told her my NEW hobby was going to be almost free. Hahahahahahahhahahaha
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My ex thought that too..... ummm I could've bought some really nice customs with just the cost of the steel and handle material :(

If you don't have a stencil already, I recommend Ernie Grospitch. No setup fee, fast shipping and great prices and a damn fine stencil. In fact his stencil is about the same price as most places set up fee.
 
Will Leavitt said:
My ex thought that too..... ummm I could've bought some really nice customs with just the cost of the steel and handle material :(

If you don't have a stencil already, I recommend Ernie Grospitch. No setup fee, fast shipping and great prices and a damn fine stencil. In fact his stencil is about the same price as most places set up fee.
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Thanks, I'll look him up when it comes time to buy a stencil. I don't even have a plan for my logo/mark/whatever. I haven't even started my first knife yet. I'm just trying to learn stuff.
 
eminart said:
I haven't even started my first knife yet. I'm just trying to learn stuff.
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That's OK bud. You have to plan for the future. If you are gonna take a trip, you need a road map.

If I can ever help, just shoot me an email.

Robert
 
I think I've read somewheres.. don't hold me to it, that some people have used an old model train speed controller thingy for the basic guts of an electric etcher.
 
Following the plan in that link, what are the chances of an idiot (me) blowing himself up or burning the house down? All I know about electronics is how to plug stuff in and change light bulbs...
 
DC is to etch it or take metal out and AC is to put carbon back in the etched area. or you can just use AC to leave a black mark on the material but it will not last as long.
 
I built that exact etcher with a total cost of 64 dollars. Its really not hard at all, If I made it I KNOW FOR SURE anyone can. I know nothing about electricity at all. The etcher works amazing to, but if you make it and leave it at 24 volts dont press it down to long or it will burn your stencil.
 
One reason I'm asking about this is because I've been thinking about trying to etch one of those scenic motifs on a blade. Yeah, I tend to jump in with both feet. Haha. But, I was an art major in college and I've dome some etches like this in copper plates that we used for printmaking. But, we used a mask and an acid bath instead of the electro-method. The acid bath might be better for larger scaled scenic stuff but I think the electrolytic (?) way would definitely be better for logos and smaller things.

I'm just rolling around ideas right now.
 
Thats funny I thought that too all the steel is free lmao ive spent near 2 g since i started now im looking at a new grinder . Tell your wife that its an investment, lol kellyw
 
While we're on the subject of building these things........... let's say you had some stuff laying around, like one one AC transformer cell phone charger and one AC to DC converter of some kind. Wouldn't the two of those work? You could even wire them up to a toggle switch to change from AC to DC. I'm just thinking. I don't think I have an AC to DC converter that I don't need though, so it probably doesn't matter.
 
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