Personalizer plus hand piece?

[LCoop]

I've searched for a manual, you tube and here with no results. I made my own electro etcher from a antique bench power supply that puts out variable voltage of both AC and DC. It works great but I thought I would purchase a PP hand piece. I used a brass block for the hand piece and it works ok but I have been lightly fine sanding the bottom after each etch.

My question is do you have to lightly sand the carbon piece after each etching?

 

[A.McPherson]

Most electro-etchers I have used have a piece of felt on the hand piece, it helps hold the liquid electrolyte and when it gets really dirty you either wash it (if you're a cheapskate like me) or you replace it.

I used to work at a place where we remanufactured medical handpieces, and that's what we did there.

 

[LCoop]

Yeah I've been replacing the felt after ever etch. So to be clear there's no need to clean the carbon end of the hand piece after a completed etch?

 

[Drew Riley]

Even with felt on the the bottom, you'll get some oxidation if using brass or steel, or some other kind of metal. Carbon brushes may get a little bit of build up from time to time (especially if they're infused with copper, like some of the newer brushes), but if it's just straight carbon, it won't be nearly as bad. I think the majority of my buildup is just salt from my electrolyte that dries onto my felt.