Etching my butt

Whit

Whit

Joined
Dec 27, 2001
Messages
729
OK guys, I know you can help me with this one. Back off IG, I'm talking about a buttcap here. I have a wrought iron cap attached to back of a nice piece of stag. Now I want to etch the WI. I don't want to submerge it in FeCL like I normally would, right? I'm assuming I'll damage the antler, don't know what might happen to the epoxy etc. So what do I do? Just wipe FeCL on there over and over until I get some depth? Any tips? Thanks,

Ryan
 
If you want that deep, grainy look, you'll need to submerge it. FeCL won't hurt the epoxy, but it'll stain the stag. I'd use a resist like asphaltium (test it first to make sure it won't stain the stag either), or resist for watercolor (the good, thick stuff) available at better art stores. If the surfaces are flat enough, I've also had good luck masking with good-qulaity, gooey electrical tape.
I use the FeCL pretty strong to get that heavily-grained look.
 
Clear nail polish will work as a resist, too, Whit. Paint it on in several coats. Use the stuff says it has nylon in it.
 
fitzo said:
Clear nail polish will work as a resist, too, Whit. Paint it on in several coats. Use the stuff says it has nylon in it.
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interesting....that wont damage the stag? How do you remove it with out changeing the color of the stag. What if the stag has been stained/dyed?

I don't see myself ever using any of these tips but I like to have them. Thanks for sharing guys.
 
Well, I would suppose if it is heavily dyed then that can present a concern, but I'm not certain how much. One is supposeed to have this stuff planned out and tested beforehand. ;) The objective would be to do it carefully and not a sloppy approach. Cover no more of the stag than utterly necessary, and make a holder to suspend the buttcap in no more etchant than is necessary.

There are any number of people who use nail polish as resist to etch damascus blades, guards, and buttcaps on all sorts of handle materials.

I'm certainly not advocating painting the whole handle and soaking it in acetone to remove the polish. Nail polish brush and q-tip dampened with acetone is more like it.
 
Whit said:
OK guys, I know you can help me with this one. Back off IG, I'm talking about a buttcap here. I have a wrought iron cap attached to back of a nice piece of stag. Now I want to etch the WI. I don't want to submerge it in FeCL like I normally would, right? I'm assuming I'll damage the antler, don't know what might happen to the epoxy etc. So what do I do? Just wipe FeCL on there over and over until I get some depth? Any tips? Thanks,

Ryan
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Why didn't you etch it before you attached it????? I would hang it butt down and paint the acid on. Time and time again. Neutralize and clean between the applications.:confused:
 
FWIW, I just checked about 25 different pieces of stag that included sambar, elk, whitetail, red and fallow deer that ranged from whitish (elk) to deeply colored (sambar). Rubbed each one with a soaking acetone swab. Got some dirt off, but no color.

Test a little spot lightly with acetone, Whit. If no color comes off, then the nail polish should work for you.
 
indian george said:
Why didn't you etch it before you attached it?????

That's a great question. The one I expected right off the bat! I guess because I'm not smart. Actually I have a really hard time getting everything to line up if I make all the parts and assemble. I know that seems to be the way the "good makers" do it, but I need to leave myself some room for error.

I put some electical tape on the antler and suspended it by a clamp in the ferric chloride for a little. It seems to have worked well. Thanks for the help guys!
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Wrap the butt of the handle in black electrical tape. Wrap real tight. Apply several layers,wrapping in opposite directions. Stop the tape where you want the etching to start. Stick the butt cap in the bowl of FC until it is just in far enough. A good way to hold it is to clamp the knife blade to a board mounted about 8-12" above the FC.Check every so often and when it is ready - rinse,neutralize,remove tape.
Stacy
 
The people who do custom painting sometimes use a liquid masking tape that dries after application. After the "tape" cures, use an exacto knife to remove the covering from the part you want to coat. :D

Larry T
 
That sounds interesting, Larry. I'll have to call the local hot car bodyshop supply!

I had mentioned the nailpolish in case Whit had a buttcap that had been contour filed to fit the pattern of the stag and unsealable with tape because of the irregular surface.

Always go with the easiest sure way, of course. :thumbup:
 
Do you think that Plasti-Dip or whatever it's called would work? I'm just thinking for future applications. Doing it with the tape seemed to work well. Maybe in the future I'll just plan better!
 
O.K.
this is easy. mask the buttcap with masking tape, then swab the stag with vaseline, take off the masking tape, then etch. no matter what acid you use it wont go through the vaseline. after your happy with the etch, wipe off the vaseline.
Del
 
my wife did some acid etch in marble. she used a rubberized spray for car undercarriage. then just peal it off.
 
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