Etching makers mark

I have never been able to get reliable, consistent results with electro etching. Most of my marks have been OK - if not brilliant, but occasionally I get a disaster, for no obvious reason and I had not been able to pin down exactly what causes this.

My usual procedure is to clean the blade with acetone, tape the stencil to the blade, apply AC 2 seconds x 5 times then dc 2 seconds x 3 times. I always start with a few test pieces and adjust timing to get a good result - it seems to vary depending on the steel, what I had for breakfast and the phase of the moon - it never really makes much sense. I use a commercial Stainless etchant.

I have always pulsed the etch to prevent over heating and melting the stencil and suspect this may be causing the problems - lifting the pad on and off maybe causing slight movement and allowing etchant under the stencil.

Today I decided to try a completely different approach and built a jig/clamp to clamp the pad, stencil and blade firmly together. I then pulse the etch by switching the etching machine on and off. Nothing moves during the whole process and the stencil is pressed firmly onto the blade.

Every etch I have done using the new jig has been sharper than anything I have done before with no shadow/haze at all - perfect in fact.

Don't know why I didn't try this years ago it is so simple - please don't tell me that is how everyone does it :)
 
That's a pretty good idea! Might be worth asking a momentary push button to your etching machine, so you don't wear out your power switch!
 
A.McPherson said:
That's a pretty good idea! Might be worth asking a momentary push button to your etching machine, so you don't wear out your power switch!
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I will do that, it is a few years since I built the machine and I cannot remember the wiring. I am probably powering it up and down again over and over.

I am not sure if this matters but a push button on the final circuit is a good idea, easy to do and easier to use

Thankyou for the suggestion - I would have taken me a few years to figure it out myself :)
 
Ken H> said:
Isn't Patricia at IMG really helpful and very knowledgeable.
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I’m sure it’s nothing for her but when I ordered my stencils she walked my through their recommended process and gave tips as well as setting up an electrolyte package based on the steels I told her I would use. It meant a lot to me.
 
Mike Read said:
My usual procedure is to clean the blade with acetone, tape the stencil to the blade, apply AC 2 seconds x 5 times then dc 2 seconds x 3 times.
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Mike, try DC first, then AC if you want to darken the etch. I believe DC is what actually removes the metal, and AC does the blackening. I sometimes only use DC. But doing AC then DC is backwards.
 
Skinner79 said:
Mike, try DC first, then AC if you want to darken the etch. I believe DC is what actually removes the metal, and AC does the blackening. I sometimes only use DC. But doing AC then DC is backwards.
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I do actually do this in the right order - as you suggest. I just don't ever remember which does which - AC/DC so typed it wrong - Doh.

I have marked up my machine Light / Dark so I don't have to remember :)
 
Heck, I kept forgetting which lead goes on the blade (If you get it backwards, DC won't work). So I had to put a big label on the machine.
 
Mike Read said:
I do actually do this in the right order - as you suggest. I just don't ever remember which does which - AC/DC so typed it wrong - Doh.

I have marked up my machine Light / Dark so I don't have to remember :)
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Got it! I find etching my mark fairly stressful because you hate getting that far along only to screw it up in the end! :)
 
Skinner79 said:
Got it! I find etching my mark fairly stressful because you hate getting that far along only to screw it up in the end! :)
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Exactly why I built my clamp/jig - I haven't messed one up yet whilst using it :)

Also if you do a few blades the same - once set up, it saves a lot of time.
 
For those looking for an easy to find solution for etchant, or for and emergency incase your normal stuff goes missing.
I saw this recipe, and have now used it on four blades with Excellent results...... I will continue to do this.

1/4 tsp distilled vinegar
1/4 tsp salt (I used Kosher)
1/2 cup distilled water.
Dissolve the salt into the solution. Dampen applicator pad slightly. Dab off excess moisture on a scrap paper towel.


Taping off the non-etched area with Lots of electrical tape really helps me keeping the bleed out away.
My Brand is basically rectangular, so it's easy to mask off with straight lines.
 
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