What's the cheapest way to etch a maker's mark?

[LARRYZ10]

I guess it is fun to try to make your own cheap etcher. I should know because that's exactly what I did. I am now on my third etching machine and it is a Personalyzer Plus . It has a maximum voltage of 24 volts and a switch to go from ac to dc or etch to mark as it is labeled. I finally decided that after putting hours and hours into one of my knives that I would not risk botching the blade at the finish line. I like high polish stainless which requires a lot of hand sanding and hours spent not to mention the file work I do on some blades. As I look at all the equipment in my shop to make nice knives the etcher does not seem overpriced at all if just for the piece of mind. Here's a couple recent etches. I use stencils from both TUS in Massachusetts and Marking Methods in Alhambra, California . The stencils from both companies are excellent. Most of the guys now are using blue stencils from Ernie. The thing that really gave me better etches was the etchant solution. I use # 97 from IMG in New York.