Homemade vs Premade Electro-Etcher?

A

aschmidt

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Sep 8, 2012
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I'm curious which features dictate whether an electro-etcher is good or not. I added up the individual component prices for LoGiudice's version of Chris Crawford's DIY electro-etcher and it came out $131.00. I've seen introduction level electro-etchers go for that much, so I'm just curious if it's worth tackling this DIY project as opposed to buying an entry level kit instead.
 
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First - An entry level etcher will work, but soon you will wish for more. Buy or build a 24V, AC/DC output ( etch/mark) unit with voltage control.
Second - Some folks just like to make things themselves...even if it doesn't save money..........like knifemaking. Right now I figure I have about $100K in my set of kitchen knives :)
Third - In some ways an etcher can be an example of ,"You get what you pay for." The case, controls, carbon block, voltage control regulation, transformer size and current output can vary a lot between some home built econo units offered and the commercial standard units.

Compare an etcher to an auto battery charger (they are quite similar). Chargers come from cheap/junk units at HF for $6, to $500 monsters with wheels to roll out to the car. The construction and output capacity is what determines the cost.
 
I see. The build quality of the DIY project I linked looks solid, so I think I'll go with that. It allows for all the AC/DC/voltage tweaking you spoke of Stacy. Oh, and I need to see pictures of this cutlery set you speak of!
 
I built Chris Crawfords following his tutorial and it came out to about $70-80 I think with the exception of the etching pad, I just used wood from home and a small piece of brass. Anyways I would say go for it just shop around a little to find some better prices for the parts.
 
Carl_First_Timer said:
I do not want to derail this thread...but Stacy please post some pics for us. $100K kitchen cutlery set :eek:
Click to expand...

.....Some folks just like to make things themselves...even if it doesn't save money.....like knifemaking........

When you add up grinders, press, sanders, buffers, forges, sand paper, tools, gizmos and gadgets, steel, wood, belts, shop buildings ....... all at least $100K ( probably $200K). The only knives I actually use out of all that are some kitchen knives and a pocket folder. So, I spent $100K to get a set of knives I could buy for less than $2K and a $500 folder.

I have planed to forge/grind a really superb set of Japanese knives for the house, all from Hitachi yasuki steel. What keeps stopping me is that I like my wife with the number of fingers she has now.
 
That's an interesting point Stacy, at what point is a knife TOO good for some people? We respect them and want to get the most out of making AND using them (at least I do) but a lot (most?) people aren't knife nuts and maybe won't have the proper respect for them. I cringe whenever I see my dad use my good blades on ceramic plates and take chunks out of the edge..
 
Titanium anodizes between 18-110v DC. You'd get some of the brown and dark blue, both of which show fingerprints real badly. 9v batteries are the answer to cheap titanium anodizing.
 
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