Pads/wicks for electro chemical etchers

[Raymond Richard]

I finally got me an etching machine and tried it for the first time today. I've just been amazed at how much all the suppliers charge for the wicks or pads. Showed one of the pads to my wife last night and she seemed to think it was just felt like I had thought. I tried a piece of scrap felt she had and it worked just fine. Not sure if this has already been discussed or not but thought I'd bring it up.

 

[fitzo]

Quilt batting works well, too, Ray. That's basically what the Marking Methods pads are.

Someone I saw had an old piece of flannel shirt on theirs.

 

[Chris Meyer]

Try the Tucson Trading Post on eBay. His prices seem pretty good. I purchased some pads from him last year. The packages look old but are still sealed. The pads in side were fine. http://stores.ebay.com/Tucson-Trading-Post

 

[Robert Dark]

Ray, I was at Wally World a couple of years ago and picked up a 3' X 3' piece of felt in the fabric department. It was on sale for around $3.50.

I have been cutting etcher pads ever since. Works great.

Robert

 

[Raymond Richard]

Fitzo, I'd never really given this a thought before since I figured I'd had a lifetime supply when I bought my first machine as a kit. I would think just about any fabric would work as long as its wet enough. Also found out that salt water works just great for the etchent. Guess its all about the buck.

 

[butcher_block]

salt water?
do tell it works about the same?
did you have to change the way you etch
butch

 

[fitzo]

.... Guess its all about the buck.

I hear you, Ray! The reduced income of retirement years has really made me second-guess every purchase.

I would think that, for an industrial setting, the pre-cut pads may be more economical than paying for someone to walk across the plant to cut a piece of fabric, and of course having to stop in the canteen both ways!!

In our case, an old shirt or sock out of the ragbag isn't so labor intensive to trim...

 

[adammichael]

I order directly from Lectroetch and it is much cheaper. I can get a Quart of etchent for the price of a pint from one of the knife supply stores. Lectroetch will also send you small samples of other types of etchant for no charge if you want to try and get better results with something different.

 

[tmickley]

for pads, I use cosmetic cotton squares from wal-mart(naturally). these are located in ladies cosmetics next to the cotton balls. a buck for a 50 or 100 of them, insanely cheap and disposable.

 

[Steve Hayden]

Once when I ran out of pads, I used paper towel. It worked fine.

 

[DAMNENG]

I wrote this up several years ago, but it still applies. I still use mine.

Enjoy!

Jim
http://www.bladegallery.com/information/info_etch.asp

 

[Bruce Bump]

I think a tampon would work for those hard to reach spots.

 

[Steve Hayden]

I think a tampon would work for those hard to reach spots.

Be sure to leave the string on-you wouldn't want to turn into a cotton picker.

 

[Raymond Richard]

Butch, The first time I tried the salt water I used an etcher that I never used before. Give it a try on some scrap steel and see what you come up with.