Which etcher to get in EU?

matus

matus

Joined
Apr 24, 2009
Messages
662
Hi,

I have decided to etch my logo (which is still in making) on my knives. Living in Germany there seem to be very little to find when it comes to etchinig tools. One can find two versions of Etch-o-Matic in UK and in particular the cheaper version (10V, 2amp) looks OK although I would prefer to have AC/DC switch. I have send them en email (mastergrave), but never got an answer.

Second option is to order Personalizer Plus (220V version) from US which is however much more expensive (it is indeed a higher end machine) - in particular when one adds shipping and taxes (the total price would quickly approach 500€)

I know that many have successfully built their own, but I do not really have all the tools and also the components are not quite as cheap - so I am not considering to go that route.

So - is there anything else out there one can get in EU?

Thanks
 
My understanding is that I need DC to remove steel and get a deep etch and AC to blacken the result. It is easy to get a DC source that would fit, but not easy to find one which does AC.
 
I recommend You to make one yourself, You'll save a lot of the money. It's easy and it will be exactly as You want. You can buy components on tme.eu. They are cheap, high quality and durable. If You are afraid from what parts to use I can pick up parts You'll need. Schema needed You can find at this forum. If You'll not I can send it to You. Skills You need are just to screw some contacts together, little bit soldering and put all parts to some box.
 
Jesenius said:
I recommend You to make one yourself, You'll save a lot of the money. It's easy and it will be exactly as You want. You can buy components on tme.eu. They are cheap, high quality and durable. If You are afraid from what parts to use I can pick up parts You'll need. Schema needed You can find at this forum. If You'll not I can send it to You. Skills You need are just to screw some contacts together, little bit soldering and put all parts to some box.
Click to expand...

Thank you. If you would be so kind to help me with the components, than I might give it a try. Let me shoot you a PM.

Just to mention for completness - one possible option would of course be a AC/DC lab powersupply which cost around 180€. When I come to think of it - the etching machines are nothing else than primitive AC/DC power supplies.
 
matus said:
Thank you. If you would be so kind to help me with the components, than I might give it a try. Let me shoot you a PM.

Just to mention for completness - one possible option would of course be a AC/DC lab powersupply which cost around 180€. When I come to think of it - the etching machines are nothing else than primitive AC/DC power supplies.
Click to expand...

Matus, I'm just converting Slovak links from tme.eu to German version of this site. Please, be patient. I guess it will cost about 50-80 € and yes surely it is AC/DC power supply. I will send You answer to Your email.

Regards, Rene.
 
Jesenius said:
Matus, I'm just converting Slovak links from tme.eu to German version of this site. Please, be patient. I guess it will cost about 50-80 € and yes surely it is AC/DC power supply. I will send You answer to Your email.

Regards, Rene.
Click to expand...
Rene, I come from Slovakia, no conversion is necrdsary. Tu je dôkaz :)


sent from phone
 
I wish I had bought a proper etching set up way back in the beginning, I don't know how much time I wasted and how much frustration I had with power supplies and home made units.
 
I completely understand, just all 'proper' solutions seem to cost around 400€ what for me at this stage is quite an investment (though I understand that buying cheap usually means buying twice). I am considering all possible solutions at this moment.
 
Recently finished this etching unit based on schematic commonly known here. From left to right: Main Power switch, Start-Stop switch, 12V-24V switch, Mark-Etch switch and finally "+" and "-" banana sockets. Overall costs I guess will be about 80 €. It was about 60 € for Me because banana cables and some little parts I already had.

Etching unit

I am happy with this and tested it on putty knife, haha. If will be interest I can publish buildalong of this unit.
 
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Looks great. I am about to build a similar one (with a help from Rene who wrote a very detailed step-by-step blog post). I will be starting in the next few days.


sent from phone
 
Thanks, Matus. I just translated english buildalong to slovak version. You can use it for build. :)
 
Excellent. I have now all the bits and pieces and will start soon


sent from phone
 
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