Etching Voltage

Bühlmann

Bühlmann

North Lake Forge
Joined
Jan 6, 2022
Messages
475
What are you guys finding is the sweet spot for AC and DC voltage when etching your maker's mark on carbon steel. I have a variable AC/DC power supply, and I'm struggling to find the right technique/voltage combination to get satisfactory results. I'm using SCE-1 electrolyte, minding the dampness of my applicator, and keeping contact to 2-3 seconds, solid ground clamp, but my etches aren't very dark or deep unless I crank it up and extend my contact time beyond what would be considered "good" for the life of my stencils. Any advice?
 
Anything from 15 to 20 volts works pretty good. Checking the amount of heat on the stencil gives guidance how much voltage. The higher the voltage, the more mA (milliAmps) it will pull creating heat.
 
Okay, is there an amperage limit I should watch out for? I’m kind of a Simple Jack when it comes to all things electrical! 😂
 
Tuhlmann said:
Okay, is there an amperage limit I should watch out for? I’m kind of a Simple Jack when it comes to all things electrical! 😂
Click to expand...
You don't set the amperage. Amperage is controlled by the voltage and resistance. If you are using a set voltage, the resistance of the electrolyte and the metal blade will determine the amperage. Using a 3-amp transformer will be sufficient for any normal etcher build.

One thing that gets left out of etcher discussions is that the pad assembly is probably the most important part of the circuit. It is where the resistance of the circuit exists.
A jury-rig pad will not allow the current to flow well. A proper carbon block with a felt pad and banana clip leads will do best. You want the lowest resistance to get the deepest etch.
Believe what you want from YouTube videos and all, but a Q-tip with a piece of wire wrapped around it is a poor etching pad.
 
Thank you Stacy, that's what I really needed to hear. I'm using a janky pad--just being lazy, I guess. I'll build or buy a proper one and I bet I'll see the difference and consistency I'm looking for.
 
+1 to having a proper etching pad. I made my first etching pad out of a scrap piece of 3/8" mild steel with a piece of felt wrapped around it to hold the electrolyte, and a wooden dowel for the handle. It worked, but etches were inconsistent and even at 24V, they took a while to etch.
I then made one out of a piece of copper/carbon mixed motor brush, and the results were a lot better, but the copper reacted with the electrolyte and I had to clean the end of the brush off every time I used it.
Finally, I made one out of just a regular carbon motor brush, and I now get much quicker and more consistent etches using only 12 volts vs the previous 24, and I don't have to spend as much time prepping the end of the brush every time.
 
Just get a piece of EDM graphite block. Ebay has them in a suitable size to make a couple etching blocks from $2.50 to $9.99.
Cut it 2X1X.75. Drill a hole in one end for a banana plug lead. Wrap a felt pad around the other end and hold in place with a rubber band.
 
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