Got me an etcher

panch0

panch0

Joined
Jun 16, 2008
Messages
3,415
I was gonna make me a crawford etcher, but I got a deal from Will Leavitt on a personalizer etcher. I have an a stencil on the way from Ernie G. Do I need to order some etching and neutralizer solution or are there home recipes that can be used with the personalizer. I read of salt water for the etching and windex and soap water for the nuetralizer. I have not done this before so don't get all technical on me.:o Thanks guys. Again.

-frank

PS. here is my stencil that I will be using. I will be etching ATS34 steel now and also A2 in the future.

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The etch solution is 13.00 for like a two year supply. I don't use the cleaner. I neutralize in soupy water. The switch has two positions Mark/Etch. Etch removes the metal out of the stencil, makes the mark deeper. I always etch first. Then mark it.
 
Frank
I use the solution too. Cant remember where I ordered it though.:o
I clean up with windex and then soapy water.

Sean
 
Cool just ordered some solution. Now its etch then mark. For the etch it is 1 mississippi 2 mississippi 3mississippi then up then all over again 7-8 times on the etch and then mark an do it again 4-5 times or does it vary from machine ot machine?
 
Varies by machine and power setting (if you have one). Insure your stencil is secure, count from between 3 to 5. Usually 4 or 5 cycles on mine, 2 cycles to mark. Like the stencil!
 
I'd recommend taking a piece of scrap of your typical steel, grind the face flat and up to your typical finish, and give it a try with one of your stencils. After you hold your etch for the three count, lift and give it plenty of time to gas off and cool down so you don't burn your stencils. If it were up to me, I'd ere on the side of less length of time per single etch hold with more lifts to gas off and more etching cycles vs. longer holds with fewer cycles.

BTW, after you use the stencil, take a very soft bristle tooth brush, or even just your finger tips and wash it with room temp water and some dish soap. You'll be able to get a number of etches from one stencil.

If you use windex to neutralize, get the kind with ammonia. Or you can use water and backing soda. As I just use warm salt water to etch with my Crawford etching, I often just clean it up with a damp towel after etching and oil immediately.

After you etch, you may notice a discoloration around the etch. If so, just take a piece of whatever grit paper you finished to, place it over the edge of the counter, and draw your knife across it in your finishing direction a few times to clear it up and sharpen your etches. Too much, and you'll start to loose the darkness in the bottom of the etch, so make a pass, check, and repeat.

Have fun!

--nathan
 
My first etch about as crooked as flea market dvd dealer but I got it to etch this wally world winchester test dummy knife I gots laying around. I got impatient and moved it while it was in progress but other than that it was a success. Thanks for the advice guys, and Will Leavitt for a great deal on an etcher!

-frank

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The first time I etched was in the garage; I brought the salt but I forgot the water so I used what I had... beer and salt. Worked fine.

I use a couple small pieces of tape to hold the stencil down so it can't move.
 
Frank of all the tools in my shop and one of the ones with the least mistakes
Iwould vote for my etcher. If reasonable care is used tapeing on your stencil
and with a little practice you can cut clean marks everytime. Alot of different
things come into play selling our knives but I believe few to be as important as
a clean cut makers mark after all we are selling "our" name not someone elses.
Ken.
 
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