Metal Etcher

Tiiiiiiiim

Tiiiiiiiim

Joined
Jun 11, 2010
Messages
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I'm looking for an electro etch to make my knives with, any suggestions? I would only need something small because I'm only really a hobbyist (so far ;) ). So it doesn't need to be some high tech thing that etches 5 blades a second.

Any suggestions and where i could buy it from would be grand. From Australia would be ideal but our dollars so strong against USA at the moment it probably doesn't matter ;)

Thanks in advance,
Tim.
 
There are a number of plans on the web to make a fairly cheap one, especially if it is just for hobby. They arent hard to make and will probably cost less than the shipping would cost you hehe. I made one that uses 2 D cell batteries and salt water that works a charm but others have made them with phone chargers and have AC/DC switches.
This is the one I used; http://www.navaching.com/forge/etching.html but others in the forums are; http://www.knives.mlogiudice.com/knifeshop/etcher/index.shtml and http://chriscrawfordknives.com/#/electro-etching-unit/4535265119. Also this link should cover any issues you may have... http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=609064
 
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Or get a small 12VDC battery charger and connect the positive to your steel and the neg to a Qtip that is damp with salt water.
 
12345678910 said:
This tutorial is better for me

http://www.knives.mlogiudice.com/knifeshop/etcher/index.shtml
Click to expand...

I tried that one, but the box it calls for is a $20 metal box, and a specialized etching pad that is around $30.

The other box is a sturdy plastic one at RadioShack for $9, and you use a small piece of steel soldered to a wire, with a chunk of wood on the back of the steel (almost free).

The total cost for the other one is only $50ish. That's why I went that route.
 
Emphasiski said:
I tried that one, but the box it calls for is a $20 metal box, and a specialized etching pad that is around $30.

The other box is a sturdy plastic one at RadioShack for $9, and you use a small piece of steel soldered to a wire, with a chunk of wood on the back of the steel (almost free).

The total cost for the other one is only $50ish. That's why I went that route.
Click to expand...

They are almost identical actual units.

You don't have to blindly follow one or the other.
If you understand them, the ideas are interchangeable.
If you want to make a hand-piece, you can use it on either
If you can find a cheaper suitable box from ANYWHERE, you could use that too.

My point was that this one is better written with an actual diagram that can be understood and followed instead of the meaningless text #1, #2 the the Crawford has.
 
no need for the fancy vinyl stencils either, get your logo set up on your comp and print it off on photo paper with a laser printer, or a normal printer and then photo copy it. (make sure you print it reverse hehe) Then just iron it onto your blade, once the etch is done, a little sandpaper or 0000 steel wool will take off the ink and leave a nice mark.
 
tattooedfreak said:
no need for the fancy vinyl stencils either, get your logo set up on your comp and print it off on photo paper with a laser printer, or a normal printer and then photo copy it. (make sure you print it reverse hehe) Then just iron it onto your blade, once the etch is done, a little sandpaper or 0000 steel wool will take off the ink and leave a nice mark.
Click to expand...

I thought about doing something like that but didn't end up doing it.

I had a go at it this morning with relative success. I just used the free and minimal time set up because i'm impatient. Here's the results. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=8800939#post8800939
 
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