tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1634504632587341638.post3485894360847770147..comments2023-03-21T06:00:33.280-07:00Comments on GEMS FROM WITCHES HAMMER - TUCSON, ARIZONA: DIY Acid Etching on Metal for Jewelry Making - Part IV: Etching on Silver Using Ferric NitrateWitches Hammerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08652646164283978226noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1634504632587341638.post-30842585532744387432011-03-10T11:26:25.093-08:002011-03-10T11:26:25.093-08:00No, I have never tried to etch on gold. It seems a...No, I have never tried to etch on gold. It seems a shame to remove ANY gold since it is so pricey! But I believe it can be done with nitic acid (also very nasty!). Your best resource would be to join (free) The Ganoksin Project, or visit www.Ganoksin.com. It has over 220,000 pages of resources and tutorials on anything having to do with Metalsmithing and Goldsmithing. They have articles in their archives that will explain how to etch gold and what safety precautions are necessary.<br /><br />Have you tried engraving? Or, casting gold? Might be an safer way to go.<br /><br />Hope this helps!Virginia Vivierhttp://www.Esprit-Mystique.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1634504632587341638.post-64730749952917667612011-03-10T10:45:16.754-08:002011-03-10T10:45:16.754-08:00hello, thank you for such a good report on etching...hello, thank you for such a good report on etching. Have you ever tried to etch gold? Ive heard its done with cyanide?? sound a bit suicidal to me. Do you know of any other options?<br />thanks <br />joshAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1634504632587341638.post-53112144895251007352010-03-21T14:45:56.974-07:002010-03-21T14:45:56.974-07:00Sharman,
It's great to hear that you found St...Sharman,<br /><br />It's great to hear that you found Staedtler pens with fine point in Victoria. I would like to hear how they hold up in Ferric Chloride or Ferric Nitrate? <br /><br />I have tried other Staedtler Lumocolor pens but they broke down in the acid bath. The only pens I have had success with are "Staedtler Lumocolor CD-R Pens.”<br /><br />Were the fine point pens you purchased "CD-R" or just "Lumocolor?" I believe there is a difference. But I will be very interested in hearing the results of your project. Perhaps any red Staedtler Lumocolor pen will hold up in the acid bath.Virginia Vivierhttp://www.esprit-mystique.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1634504632587341638.post-12723163162331125982010-03-14T14:38:19.043-07:002010-03-14T14:38:19.043-07:00Hi Virginia,
Thanks for responding ...Hi Virginia, <br /> Thanks for responding so quickly. I know nothing about guns but these shells have "45 auto" on the ends. My girlfriend gave them to me as I just did some etching in a silversmithing course. I'll give it a try and check the depth of the etch often. <br /> By the way, I bought individual red Lumocolor pens in "F" (fine) and "S" (super fine?) at art supply stores up here in Victoria, BC, Canada. I would bet that you could find them in Tucson. They allow for much more detail and control. <br /> Thanks again for the tutorial. <br /> SharmanSharman Martinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1634504632587341638.post-7816883138102789742010-03-13T20:14:05.904-08:002010-03-13T20:14:05.904-08:00Sharman,
What caliber bullet shell are you trying...Sharman,<br /><br />What caliber bullet shell are you trying to etch?<br /><br />I have etched a wide variety of brass bullet shells, and I haven't had any problems using ferric chloride. It is a very slow etch and you should get a satisfactory etch depth in about 30 minutes with fresh ferric chloride. <br /><br />Make sure you have the open end of the bullet shell plugged up so the acid is NOT able to enter the inside of the bullet shell. You can plug it with a wooden dowell, play doh, polymer clay, etc.<br /><br />Make sure the dowell is floating, and not sitting on the bottom of the etch bath. Also, make sure the etch bath is moving, either from aquarium pump vibration or vibration by placing it on top of a running dryer.<br /><br />After you have used your etch bath several times it may take a bit longer to reach the same depth of etch. I wouldn't worry about etching all the way through, really. Brass bullet shells etch very evenly. <br /><br />It's fun to experiment. Just pull the shell out of the etch bath every 20 minutes or so, rinse it off and see how it is doing. Take notes and soon you'll have it down pat. <br /><br />Go fot it!Witches Hammerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08652646164283978226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1634504632587341638.post-25931419385361288562010-03-13T18:15:41.648-08:002010-03-13T18:15:41.648-08:00Hi Virginia, I have some brass bullet shells that...Hi Virginia, I have some brass bullet shells that I would like to etch but the metal seems quite thin. I don't want to put a hole in them. Do you have any advice? Thanks, SharmanSharman Martinnoreply@blogger.com