Etching equipment

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Tkrocky

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Sep 6, 2013
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If I were to get some good stencils, could I use a 12 volt battery charger as my power source? It seems like too much work to build the whole unit you find the tutorials for. They are only 25 bucks at harbor freight. I am sure somebody has tried something along these lines so I wanted to hear some opinions! Thanks guys!
 
A battery charger is DC only, you need both AC and DC

You could start with that and tap into the AC at the correct place, but if you had the means to do that you probably wouldn't complain about building your own.
 
When I started making knives I bought a tiny transformer unit attached to a piece of carbon with some felt attached with a rubber band. I had to buy stencils and that cost some bucks for good stencils. The etches came out decent with some trial and error. I later bought another unit that was just a little more money. A year later I wanted a good machine for reliable deep etches and bought a "Personalyser" etcher. I made pretty decent etches again but wanted more power. I finally bought a "Personalyser Plus' and am now satisfied with repeatability of the etches and their depth and sharp black marking. Other knife makers have used the phrase "buy once and cry once". I wished that I had spent the money the first time to get good etches. I have now replaced many of my tools and equipment with better quality but higher priced items and kick myself for ever trying to get off cheap. Just my opinion.
 
Larry is a perfect example of taking the long path to discover what was there for you if you just read and listen. You can read all sorts of, "I did it for $5" internet info, and see all sorts of YouTube videos how someone took a cell phone charger and a Q-tip and made one.....but if you want a professional grade mark on your knife it takes more than a few bucks.

24 volts, 3 amps, variable power setting, and AC/DC are needed for a good and deep etch. Build a good unit or buy a good unit. Just as important is the proper etching pad, the etchant, and the stencil quality.
 
For about twice that you can build your own etcher. There are plans on the internet that detail what you need and the steps to hook it up correctly. Google Chris Crawford etcher the plans he posted are the ones I used to build mine and it works great.
 
A car battery charger puts out 6 amps minimum. When I tested with an ammeter, it never went above .1 amps while etching. Deeper etching is done with multiple cycles, not more power. There is nothing special about the transformer used in a commercial etcher. Most of them are either 12VAC or 24VAC 3A, because that's a common size that etcher manufacturers can source affordably. I've used 1A in the past and it didn't etch any differently, but the 3A were about $2 cheaper. What did make a difference was good electrolyte. Salt water works, but #94 Electrolyte works so much better.

Here's a link to a WIP I made for this etcher:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...ew-Electro-Etcher-design?highlight=diy+etcher
 
zaph1 said:
A car battery charger puts out 6 amps minimum. When I tested with an ammeter, it never went above .1 amps while etching. Deeper etching is done with multiple cycles, not more power. There is nothing special about the transformer used in a commercial etcher. Most of them are either 12VAC or 24VAC 3A, because that's a common size that etcher manufacturers can source affordably. I've used 1A in the past and it didn't etch any differently, but the 3A were about $2 cheaper. What did make a difference was good electrolyte. Salt water works, but #94 Electrolyte works so much better.

Here's a link to a WIP I made for this etcher:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...ew-Electro-Etcher-design?highlight=diy+etcher
Click to expand...

That thing looks super good. I actually might try it. Have you made any videos of your progress? Or do you mind if I bug you with questions?
 
You can pick up an etcher with all the solution and some stencil paper for around $160 online. I'll probably go that route and maybe get some custom stencils made.
 
TKrocky, you can get them online from a few different retailers. I used to enjoy making them, but it just hurts my neck to make them now. It usually takes me about 20 minutes per etcher, which I spread out over a 6 month period. Really the only difference between mine and one of Crawford's is the amount of empty space inside the giant project box that he recommends. That, and he uses fancy banana jacks while I use much less costly speaker terminals. Knifemakers tend to like the amount of overkill involved in the design by Crawford. I don't blame them, but it's really not necessary.
 
I have one of Zaph etchers and have been pretty happy with it. I use a good etchent and still use a Q Tip.

Here is a etch I just did.

His model uses and arcade button and I found if I hold for 5 seconds and move to the next section of the stencil hold for 5, repeat until it has been covered and then do it again 4 or 5 times. The amount of etchent on the Q tip is damp only. It leaves a clean repeatable etch in carbon and stainless...


C9ahsM6.jpg
 

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