Here’s an easy method for etching metal with
electricity. I wanted to make some brass plaques
to commemorate my brother, who passed
away recently. Other methods use toxic etchant
chemicals, but this method uses salt water.
Both methods have pros and cons, but I prefer
the electric method because it’s safer and the
cleanup is more straightforward.
1. MAKE AND APPLY YOUR MASK
I designed the artwork in Illustrator to mimic
the Café Bustelo logo (Figure
A
). (Really I only
needed to make up an R and an N, since I could
just trace the rest of the letters.) Before you etch,
you’ll need to transfer your artwork onto the
brass, masking out everything that you don’t want
to etch.
There are a few methods for this step, as well. I
first tried the toner transfer method of ironing on
a laser printout, then soaking off the paper in
water, but I couldn’t get the temperature and
pressure worked out well enough to successfully
transfer my image. From what I read, there’s a
sweet spot in both temperature and pressure that
results in success, and I just didn't get there.
So instead I used my vinyl cutter to make a
sticker of my design and stuck it to the brass,
which also necessitated a bunch of tweezer work
to “weed” the sticker after cutting (Figure
B
).
Make sure your metal is super clean before you
apply your artwork, and don’t touch it with your
fingers after you’ve cleaned it.
2. PREPARE YOUR METAL
Make sure your power supply is unplugged. On
the back of the brass, tape the stripped end of the
positive wire so it makes good contact (Figure
C
).
Cover the surface of the brass with more sticky
vinyl or another waterproof tape, except where
you want to etch.
Attach a gator clip to your negative wire, and
Etch custom
designs into brass
with salt, water,
and electricity
TIME REQUIRED:
A Few Hours
DIFFICULTY:
Easy
COST:
$35–$65
MATERIALS
» Power supply, 12V 2A Digi-Key #839-1688-ND.
I replaced the connector with longer wires.
» Wire same gauge as power supply wires, or thicker
» Alligator clip
» Brass sheet Amazon #B09KRLWTDJ
» Steel sheet Amazon #B09L7T83S8
» Plastic container larger than your brass
» Warm water and salt
» Aquarium pump with tubing Amazon
#B0009YJ4N6
» Aerator stone Amazon #B0002564ZI
» Electrical tape
TOOLS
» Laser printer and iron/laminator/heat press
for toner transfer method
— OR —
» Vinyl cutter and adhesive vinyl for vinyl method
Oscar Roselló
A
B
C
97
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