electro-chemical etching

[pklin1297]

Hello everyone,

I'm looking for some guidance on start-up kits to start electro-chemical etching designs/logos onto my builds. I'm not a production shop, but want to brand my own builds. I've watched numerous youtube videos and looking for a good source for photo or vinyl stencils. I do have a power source I can use based on what I've seen online in comparison, but still need the solutions, and applicators. Most youtube vids are of people with cobbled setups and I'm looking for a better solution than using Q-tips on alligator clamps...

Anyway, just wondering if anyone here is already doing this and can offer some guidance. Thanks!

[Fozzie TheBear]

Few links I remembered to bookmark....

Tools and stencil materials - http://www.martronics-corporation.com/index.htm

Stencil Vendor - http://www.erniesknives.com/knifemaker_stencil.html

Non q-tip process - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOMRcqxZe4I

Recent thread in the forum with some etching - http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s....php?t=1278863

Old thread on etching - http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=208025

Vinyl cutter (do not own) - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01I51ME1S...861168ZR&psc=1

[IrishJoe3]

I've done a lot of electro etching, and while I can't help you with the vinyl decals, I did make a 30 minute how-to video that walks you through my technique.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=949819

[Fozzie TheBear]

Also, I have come across a couple youtube videos with guys that have made tools that do the same thing as q-tips but are larger and flatter. One I remember involved a flattened piece of copper pipe on the end of a piece of wood with piece of cotton pad attached to it. He felt it helped keep the etching more consistent by covering a larger area. Might be more cobbling than you are interested in doing.

[IrishJoe3]

Pardon my crappy video editing skills


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOMRcqxZe4I

[Fozzie TheBear]

I've done a lot of electro etching, and while I can't help you with the vinyl decals, I did make a 30 minute how-to video that walks you through my technique.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=949819

Great video....its the one I referenced in my first response.

[IrishJoe3]

Great video....its the one I referenced in my first response.

LOL so it is! Thanks! Didn't see that

[ar15barrels]

I'm looking for a better solution than using Q-tips on alligator clamps...

I bought martronics pads and electrolytes and then made my own pad holder/electrode from delrin and a piece of EDM carbon.
I wrap the pad around the carbon electrode and then clamp the pad in place with the two screws that hold the round carbon to the delrin handle.
A piece of 1/4" diameter copper threads into the carbon electrode and goes down the middle of the handle so that a bananna plug can pug into the top of the handle.
The pad holds the electrolyte between the carbon electrode and the work-piece.
The little delrin tray was made to fit the carbon electrode with the pad on it and holds the electrolyte for wetting the pad.

[pklin1297]

How difficult is it to get a clean deep etch? Based on what I've been reading online all day, it still seems to be a hit or miss process and takes a lot of trial and error to find the process to produce a deep enough etch (in the case of firearms, 0.003"), and even when you do find the process, it seems to not be consistent... From what I've read, I may need 24 Volts DC current to get a deep etch. I'm not really interested in getting a black mark since after media blasting the color would be gone anyway, but it has to be deep enough so it doesn't disappear after blasting... Lots more to read it seems...

[ar15barrels]

How difficult is it to get a clean deep etch?

I have not done any deep etching.

[Hateca]

Unless you have a commercial type etching system you are not going to achieve a very deep etch.

I use a system from this company to mark my company logo and calibers on barrels.

http://www.markingmethods.com/store/pc/home.asp

[MosinVirus]

Also, I think getting uniform "floor" is difficult. I tried it before and kept getting ripples or bumps in the "floor". But I don't think it is a concern for lettering. Only graphics where you want to lower thick flats

[kalibeltfeeder]

Unless you have a commercial type etching system you are not going to achieve a very deep etch.

I use a system from this company to mark my company logo and calibers on barrels.

http://www.markingmethods.com/store/pc/home.asp

I get scared when I don't see prices or you have to contact them for a quote, any idea what's a base model gonna set me back?

[IrishJoe3]

Unless you have a commercial type etching system you are not going to achieve a very deep etch.

I use a system from this company to mark my company logo and calibers on barrels.

Not true.

Here you can see how deep I'm able to etch.

[ar15barrels]

Not true.

Here you can see how deep I'm able to etch.

Keep in mind he is talking about steel and you are showing an aluminum part.
Deep etching of steel is certainly different from deep etching of aluminum.

Also, your deep etching example is not showing a wide area like the OP was talking about as your letters are quite narrow so the rounded corners don't reallly show.