|
Gunsmithing & How To Pro, Amateur & WECSOG and Tutorials, Guides & OLL Build Instructions |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Electro Etching an AR-15 80% lower.
Half the fun of building a gun is putting your own mark on it. I have been experimenting with different methods, and electro etching is the best method I have found so far (I have ideas for improvements).
I started by trying sandblasting. I bought some resist tape cut out my pattern put it on a piece of scrap and blasted away. It worked O.K. BUT the air pressure lifted the finer tips and such, so it was back to the drawing board. Using the same resist tape I tried electro etching, and the results were much better. I am etching with a jewelry plating power source but a battery charger will work (not an automatic one). I mixed white vinegar with a little salt, dipped a Q-tip into this solution and attached it to the negative side of the charger, then clamped the positive side to the lower. It took longer than I was told (about one hour and 10 Q-tips), but I think it turned out nice. Here is my most recent effort. I started by drawing my pattern. Cutting the pattern Hooked up ready to go. Making little bubbles. After cleanup with the sandblaster. Last edited by VaderSpade; 07-30-2009 at 7:28 PM.. |
#3
|
||||
|
||||
i can see lots of potential w/ photo-reactive stencils here....
__________________
Live between Santa Cruz and SLO? Want to get involved? Check out the Central Coast Calguns Community Chapter And join the Central Coast Region Social Group! NRA Life Member - CRPA Life
Statements posted here are the sole opinions of the author and not those of CGN, CGF, CRPA, or any other institution or agency unless otherwise noted. |
#6
|
||||
|
||||
I've seen this method used for ak trunnion markings and more authentic selector markings on ak receivers. I thought it would only work on steel. That turned out nice.
__________________
2024 New Year?s resolution will be no posting.. |
#7
|
||||
|
||||
No.
The anodizing acts as insulation.
__________________
Randall Rausch AR work: www.ar15barrels.com Bolt actions: www.700barrels.com Foreign Semi Autos: www.akbarrels.com Barrel, sight and trigger work on most pistols and shotguns. Most work performed while-you-wait, evening and saturday appointments available. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
The Finishing Touches.
I anodized three lowers today, and they came out great. Pictures do not do this justice, the flash made it hard to get a good picture, and it's too late for natural light. Tomorrow I put it all together, and go shooting. |
#9
|
||||
|
||||
Looks good
For the record, Yes. You can go deep enough for ATF regs. You'll just need to keep at it for a while. It takes me about 1.5 hours to etch all the ID markings and "safe/fire" marks. Again, good job Vader.
__________________
-A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.* *participation may vary by location. Not valid in California. |
#10
|
||||
|
||||
hmmm...
We do some very simple photoresist/mask stuff for high school students that would translate really well for this. You would get really clean edges (no cutting required) as you could use any B/W printed transparency to do the developing in sunlight. Let me get the materials list and the how-to - if you want to try it.
__________________
Google Map of OLL Dealers List of CA-friendly Manufacturers, Dealers, Middlemen, and Magazine rebuild kit dealers Click me-->So you're a n00b and you want to build an AR? <--Click me This post is based on actual events. Some facts may be altered for dramatic purposes. All posts are pure opinion. All persons, living and dead, are purely coincidental, and should not be construed. Last edited by aplinker; 08-04-2009 at 6:21 PM.. |
#12
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
__________________
Live between Santa Cruz and SLO? Want to get involved? Check out the Central Coast Calguns Community Chapter And join the Central Coast Region Social Group! NRA Life Member - CRPA Life
Statements posted here are the sole opinions of the author and not those of CGN, CGF, CRPA, or any other institution or agency unless otherwise noted. |
#14
|
||||
|
||||
yes thats one of several commercial products that do what VaderSpade did w/ very cheap OTS materials.
note that the "in seconds" marking is very superficial... not really akin to engraving as much as just shallow etching or frosting. that company also sells photostencil materials & gear at a considerably inflated (IMO) price. but yes it works.
__________________
Live between Santa Cruz and SLO? Want to get involved? Check out the Central Coast Calguns Community Chapter And join the Central Coast Region Social Group! NRA Life Member - CRPA Life
Statements posted here are the sole opinions of the author and not those of CGN, CGF, CRPA, or any other institution or agency unless otherwise noted. |
#16
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
My power source adjusts from 0-15 watts DC; amps are dependent on surface area exposure. I had it cranked to 15 watts (for the marking), the amp gauge barley moved. I used the same power source for anodizing again cranked to 15 watts; with a larger surface area the amps went to 10 (meter goes to 35). I have read that you need to watch the heat on the stencil. I was using a rubberized sandblast resist that was pretty tough, if you were using thinner plastic stencil and/or more power I could see it being a problem. |
#17
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
|
#19
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
__________________
Live between Santa Cruz and SLO? Want to get involved? Check out the Central Coast Calguns Community Chapter And join the Central Coast Region Social Group! NRA Life Member - CRPA Life
Statements posted here are the sole opinions of the author and not those of CGN, CGF, CRPA, or any other institution or agency unless otherwise noted. |
#20
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
|
#21
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
Here's a few links to get started. Aron's Stompbox etching tutorial FreeStompboxes Enclosure Etching forum thread
__________________
"Are you bringing in any weapons?" "Of course not!" "You're not changing anything." |
#22
|
|||
|
|||
Well, I finely made it to the next step.
I bought a vinyl cutter a while ago, but needed to find the time to learn how to use it. This effort was hampered by the fact I could not get my computer to talk to it. Most of the instructions were in Chinese, and only told how to assemble the hardware. I got on line and got instructions from several places including nice people on forums just like we have here. ALL of the instructions started with “plug the cutter into your computer, when the new hardware wizard pops up follow the prompts”. The problem was the new hardware wizard pop never popped up, on any of my computers. The factory told me that they could link into my computer long distance and fix the problem. Say what??? You want to be able to have access to my computer from who knows where??? I don’t think so!! My son was here for the Labor Day weekend. He’s computer wiz and it took him four hours to fix the problem. He said it was straight forward WHEN you finely find the right path, but the disc that came with the cutter is meant to be used with dozens of different models, and pre-dated Vista. All the while I wasn’t even sure I would be able to make stencils small enough to put serial numbers on AR’s. All the Sign shops I talked to said it couldn’t be done. Well I did it, and they turned out great. Trial run Today I will electro etch a piece of scrap to see if the vinyl will take the heat. |
#24
|
||||
|
||||
that sucks you had so much trouble with the software. I wish I could have helped Im pretty good with computers I might have been able to talk you through it.
__________________
Just a libertarian guy in a Leftist Authoritarian state. |
#26
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
The outfit I got my anodizing equipment sells high-end power suppliers, which are the same thing. The only advantage these power supplies have is that they are a little more adjustable. |
#29
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
you think it would be possible to Rhodium plate these lowers instead of sending them to be anodized? (my family has a jewelry store as well) I wouldnt know of the downsides or cons of doing this, but Im assuming it wouldnt be as tough as the anodizing. It would be interesting to have a gold plated AR... lol kinda like those gold AKs |
#30
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
I plan to gold plate it when I get it finished. I have gallons of both 18K plate and Rhodium plate. The price of Rhodium hit $10,000.00 per ounce last year. I should have sold. |
#33
|
|||
|
|||
Well I think I got this whipped.
Here's the latest; The markings seem as deep as any store bought lower (they are deeper than they look in the photos). This is as deep as I can make them with these stencils. The dots in the a's and e's start to lift off at this point. I have some fine jewelry tools; I may mess around with making the serial numbers a little deeper. It should be easy to follow what's here. I put the name and city to the right above the selector. Driver’s side. Passenger’s side. |
#34
|
||||
|
||||
Looks great VS! Makes me wish I had the tools to do my own 80%
__________________
MY AR Profile #1
|
#35
|
|||
|
|||
A few tips in response to some questions I've received.
A cheap NON automatic automobile battery charger 12 volt, 10 amp should work fine. An automatic automobile battery charger would read a dead short and turn itself off. One thing I learned the hard way is that the positive side needs to be connected to the lower and the negative side to the Q-Tip. I got it backward once and it ate away the clip holding the Q-Tip, and barely marked the work piece (in this case just a piece of scrap). If the bare clip touches bare metal there will be sparks, tape off the surrounding area. I recommend testing any setup on a piece of scrap before trying it on a lower. If I have the time, and you post pictures of the results here I will cut a few stencils if you have an 80% ready to go. I don't want to be cutting stencils for anyone that MAY one day want to mark a lower. Priority will be given to builders that have shared there knowledge and experience here on the boards. I will cut text only (no time for art work). PM for details, but note that deer season starts on Sept. 19th, and I plan to spend all my extra time hunting, so I will need to squeeze this in. At some point in the near future I will post pictures and instructions on how to place and "weed" the stencils. You will need VERY strong reading glasses. Example of text; Manufacture City State Model Caliber serial # Max is 10 maybe 12 letters/numbers per line. If you want room for art work the Manufacture and city should be moved to above the hammer pin/selector area. |
#37
|
||||
|
||||
Nice job Vader.
I recently did some etching on a friends revolver. This technique works on brass as well, but I modified the electrolyte solution a little (saltwater and vinegar). check it out. It looks a little pitted, but in person it looks great. The macro function on my camera picks up more detail than the naked eye.
__________________
-A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.* *participation may vary by location. Not valid in California. |
#38
|
||||
|
||||
Finally got mine etched tonight, thanks to VaderSpade. Should look pretty good after cleanup. I used a 12 volt, 0.75 amp power supply from my junkbox.
__________________
I'm retired. That's right, retired. I don't want to hear about the cop who stopped you today or how you didn't think you should get a ticket. That just makes me grumpy! |
#39
|
|||
|
|||
That's awesome work Grump!
Did you use a stencil or photo resist paper? The Q-tip method right? What was the salt to water ratio? I plan to do mine this weekend......want to make sure I don't screw it up. |
#40
|
||||
|
||||
Used a vinyl stencil that VaderSpade was kind enough to make up for me and the Q-tip method, although I used regular vinegar instead of white (that's what I had on hand). About 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a 3-ounce cup of vinegar. I washed the receiver in detergent afterwards, followed by spraying with contact cleaner to ensure that no acid residue remained.
Note: That vinegar/salt mix will eat the bottom out of a 3-ounce Dixie cup in a couple of hours. My workbench might never be the same - it'll certainly never smell quite the same...
__________________
I'm retired. That's right, retired. I don't want to hear about the cop who stopped you today or how you didn't think you should get a ticket. That just makes me grumpy! |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|