Hi,
have tried a quick search, but not found what I'm after - can anyone point me in the direction of a thread or tutorial on etching?! I don't have a clue how it's done...oh, the shame!
I love the look of it though... ???
Hi there, you can buy either etching cream or solution (a liquid) - if you're after etching several smaller beads, just chuck them in and give them a gentle shake now and then (otherwise the place where they touch will stay shiny). Bigger beads, you can hang on a piece of wire (or etch them before you take them off the mandrel), again, make sure they don't touch the floor or sides. You should get a good effect after about 10-15 minutes :)
Where do you get the etching fluid and creams from - I have seen the fluid for sale on a website somewhere (cannot remember where tho) but don't recall seeing cream.
Hmmm.....not bought it before (I use the liquid), but google points me here:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ETCHALL-glass-etching-cream-and-liquid-2-X-4-fl-oz_W0QQitemZ170405769848QQcategoryZ3099QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4340.m263QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DSIC%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BIEW%252BFICS%252BUFI%26otn%3D11%26ps%3D63#ht_4767wt_754
That's great, thanks!
Dee
Tuffnells sell Dip N Etch in a tub - you just put all your beads in a dish, cover with the fluid, stir them about a bit, then simply drain the Dip N Etch back into the tub (you can reuse it). It takes about 5 minutes to etch them. You can reuse the fluid over and over again.
Helen x
I was horrified to see the listing on ebay showing someone etching without rubber gloves and also with instructions to use water in the container to gauge the depth before using the etchall. Etchall is a dangerous acid and, as has been pointed out on here by RedHotSal, its effect of eating in to skin and bone is intensified if it comes into contact with water.
Maybe Julie Lush can help here - she did a tutorial for Beads and Beyond a while back which involved 3 final steps showing the beads being etched - maybe the photos and instructions could be posted here?
Kazx
Good idea, Kaz! Here we go ...
Use all non-metal utensils with your Etch All fluid, and take proper safety precautions: wear rubber gloves, an apron and eye protection. Work in a ventilated space.
(http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x317/Bluebottle_pics/etching1.jpg)
Lay your beads in a single layer in a plastic container, and cover with Etch All fluid.
(http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x317/Bluebottle_pics/etching2.jpg)
After around 5 minutes, turn each bead over with a cocktail stick or wooden skewer to ensure all surfaces etch equally.
(http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x317/Bluebottle_pics/etching3.jpg)
I didn't get a photo for the last step, but I pour the fluid back into the bottle through a plastic tea-strainer to catch the beads. Then tip the beads into a jug of cold water and rinse thoroughly under a running tap. Pour off the water and sprinkle a layer of Bicarbonate of Soda over the beads, and add enough fresh water to just cover. The bicarb will neutralise any acid left on the beads - you can either leave them to soak in this solution for a little while or rub them under the water. Rinse and leave to dry on kitchen paper.
;D
my Oh mixed a stuffing for some BBQ fish in my just used etching jug!! I only found out when the fish was on the BBQ, he took the stuffing out and ate the fish, said it was very tasty.
;) ;)
I also tend to wash my plastic container, plastic tweezers, jug and tea strainer in bicarb solution before packing it all & the etchall in a sealed box. Paranoid - moi?
Kazx
You've been brilliant, thanks everyone for your advice! ;D
Just got my first ever pot of etching fluid from Tuffnells, so this was a huge help to read. Thank you to Julie Lush for the photos, now off to find some gloves!
LOL .... how lovely and clean that etch all looks !!! Mine is almost black now... must buy a new pot soon !
(it still works though)
:D
Kaz - you are not being paranoid! To me what you describe are necessary precautions.
Julie that is a fab little tut, it would be great if it could go on the wiki?
One thing I wasn't sure about with the etching, is when you rinse them in the sink under running water, does it damage the surface of the sink? I wondered what the effects on stainless steel or ceramic is, as presumably a trace of acid is running through it?
I must confess that I've been really, really paranoid about using this stuff and have always opted for the totally safe version of tumbling them instead.
Cheers!
Etching solution WILL spoil a stainless steel sink. A little paranoia when using etching solution isn't a bad thing. It's seriously hazardous stuff, but can be used safely provided the proper precautions are followed.
Keep a little pot to use for neutralising: throw in some bicarbonate of soda, say a teaspoonful; add cold water (just enough to cover the beads). Strain the etching fluid back into its container through a plastic tea strainer or funnel, or use plastic tweezers to pick the beads out of the fluid. Drop the beads straight into the neutralising pot and leave them in there till it stops fizzing, agitate a bit and it may fizz some more. Then rinse the neutralised beads under running water (I give em a rub too) - so no acid should actually come into contact with your sink.
Quote from: Lush! on September 15, 2010, 07:38:59 PM
- so no acid should actually come into contact with your sink.
...unless you catch the top of the etching solution pot with your sleeve as you're reaching over to pick up the lid. Been there, done that ::)
Quote from: Bumpy Beads on September 15, 2010, 07:50:50 PM
Quote from: Lush! on September 15, 2010, 07:38:59 PM
- so no acid should actually come into contact with your sink.
...unless you catch the top of the etching solution pot with your sleeve as you're reaching over to pick up the lid. Been there, done that ::)
lol there speaks the voice of experience! we should put in a step in bold about putting everything within easy reach where u dont need to reach over things! could turn nasty otherwise
I also discovered to my cost that tiny splashes on coloured tiles will bleach them. (oops!)
perhaps a list then... things to not get etching fluid on.....hmm summarised as dont get etching fluid on anything other than ur beads! Wear gloves, cover anything u like with something u dont mind getting wrecked also
Quote from: Lesley Jane on September 14, 2010, 09:08:06 AM
LOL .... how lovely and clean that etch all looks !!! Mine is almost black now... must buy a new pot soon !
(it still works though)
:D
following on from this - does etch all stop working? mine is black and horrible and still etches opaques ok but transparents don't seem to work very well now. Is this normal? I will get some more but just wondered if it has an optimum usage?
x