I am so inspired by Sabine's fantastic etched beads I want to have a try at etching and anyway have plenty of fuglies that might be improved ;D
Any tips on the best way of dipping the beads?
Also has anyone come across a list of glasses and their affinity (if that's the right word) for etching?
Hi Sue, I'm flattered - I've never been an inspiration before ;) Etching is loads of fun (I would say that!) - I can't say I'm an expert, but there's a few things I've discovered - I use the etching liquid, rather than the cream, and your bead should be suspended in the liquid, rather than chucked in - if it toouches the sides, or the bottom, or another bead, it won't etch. Some more knowledgeable people will tell you more about what you can ad can't use to suspend, I use a length of sterling wire, plonk the bead on it, fashion a hook at the top and hang it over the rim of my etching container. I did ask somewhere which glass doesn't etch, and I think Terra (double helix) is the only definite, although there were one or two that etched unevenly. Something I noticed that was quite good to know is that the etching liquid will attack surface silver leaf & foil, but not so much wire. I etch my frosty beads for ages - sometimes over an hour - but you can get a nice satin-y sheen after about 5 minutes, it depends on the effect you want.....does that help? Have fun, and don't forget to post pics!! :) :)
Sabine, that helped me too. I've had a couple of etching sessions and was rather disappointed with the results. I didn't realise you could leave the bead in for an hour - that might help.
One tip I'd like to add (though it is probably the norm for most people anyway) is I makesure to clean my beads of all bead release before I put them in the solution. I would hate to be cleaning soggy bead release mixed with etching fluid.
Good point, Stacy....although no matter how hard I try, there's still a bit of sludge at the bottom of my etching container :-\
Yeah, I get that too Sabine. I think its better to have a little than a lot!! (in this instance anyway!) :D
You clever old lot!
How do you etch just part of a bead, what do you cover the 'to stay shiny bit' with???
Hahaaa, I asked that question only about a fortnight ago, because I had the vision of my beads, but no idea how to do it - the clever answer (from Tan, I believe): nail varnish! (and nail varnish remover afterwards!!) ;)
Does it matter what colour?? I bet you've got vampiress red haven't you sabine!
I was going to ask that Stacy - LOL!!
Hey thanks for the answer Sabine and all. I like the idea of the wire hook. I'm going to get some fluid on order and then start experimenting - I will post results but do still need plenty of ppp.
Quote from: Stacy on January 29, 2008, 07:56:49 PM
Does it matter what colour?? I bet you've got vampiress red haven't you sabine!
Errrr.....there's a picture of me and Toby on the Ethical CHallenge thread...have a look, it doesn't go with vampire red :-\ ;D I don't wear varnish, so the only stuff I had was left-over from my wedding ;D....nearly clear, ever so slightly sparkly. It's a bummer to spot on the bead, so I'd recommend something more colourful and easier to find on the bead!! ;)
??? I fancy having a go at acid etching some of my bogus beads, just to see what it does... bit of a scientific experiment and all that. Thing is, does one acid etch before or after annealing? (Don't have a kiln at mo you see!) Intruiged......
I think you etch after the beads have been annealed and cleaned, otherwise you leave nasty bead release in the etching fluid. I also think there's another thread like this from a few months ago. Will have a hunt.....
Modified to add link... http://www.frit-happens.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2148.0
Check out www.dichroicglass.co.uk in the articles section there is a piece called 'How to make simple customised dichroic patterns'.
I love this new site and find myself logging on regularly.
Dawn
Forgot to mention that from the articles section it is in the Glass Fusing Section.
Sorry
Dawn
If you etch before annealing, beads go shiny again in the kiln. They are 'fire polished' in the same way you flame polish to get rid of chill marks. Which is handy to know if you etch a bead and don't like the effect...just stick it back in the kiln! :D
I am sorry I know it is a stupid question but I want to make one of my bead frosted looking I know it's called etching. But I am looking for a word .....how you call this thing (liquid? or..) any way this thing which make glass frosty and where can I bye it?
etching fluid or cream
i use the fluid, bought from Tuffnels think it's called etch all - dip'n'etch
Yep, I got some too from Tuffnells. Powerful stuff so handle with extreme care! ;)
Thank you :) Some times it's hard to find thing if you don't know what are you looking for lol :) ;)
I get that feeling most of the time! ;D
Quote from: Mand on June 30, 2008, 09:03:03 PM
I get that feeling most of the time! ;D
it's make 2 of us :) well one day :) We will be THE PERSON WHO KNOWS EVRYTHING
Unless we forget what it was.... ;)
This might be a daft question but is the etching liquid that is used on beads the same as the stuff used for printed circuit borads? Hubby has some of the latter which is described as Ferric Chloride - could i use it to etch my beads?
hi rozelle,
just looked at my etching liquid, the active ingredient is ammonium bifluoride.
worth a go with your stuff, as its an acid attacking the smooth layer.
sandy x
Hi All,
I am without gas at the mo so can't make beads so am wanting to have a go at etching some of my fuglies just to try it out but need some help with the overall process. I have read that Dip n Etch can be highly dangerous so would like some advice from you loverly beady experts out there. I searched everywhere for a tut on etching and could'nt find one so sorry if i am asking a useless question here.
;)
1: What should i use to suspend the bead in the etching solution with? Can i use string?
2: Cleaning off the beads after etching - what is the best and safest way to do this?
3: Rough idea of etching times - i only want a soft satiny effect rather than a deeply etched effect
4: Any amazing hints and tips you have discovered would be most welcome me lovelies :-*
1.. string is fine...
2.. bicarb of soda in water to neutralise the acid..
3.. no idea, try and see!! ;-)
try painting out areas of the bead with bead release or similair to give areas of shine and matte...
I'm no expert but
1) Fishing nylon
2) 5 - 15 mins (have left it much longer 1 hour-forgetfulness and no problems)
3) Bi-carb
4) Paint with nail varnish for smooth - non-etched areas- and peel off after cleaning.
You can get "Etch all resist gel" which just peels off after etching. Plus the bottle has a small nozzle which makes application easier. Don't worry too much about danger. Provided you don't pour the stuff over yourself, you'll be fine. I usually use fine copper wire , bought on a spool from Maplins Electrical, to suspend the bead using a mandrel balanced on the pot of etching fluid. The wire is useful for all sorts of things to do with beads, keeping sets together etc. Even if you do spill the bottle over yourself, washing under the kitchen tap will do. The cats just ignore it anyway, just as they stay away from the torch.
Just had a thought. If you want to make a dotty bead, candle wax drips will work well plus some art shops sell a rubber solution you can dab on. Lets face it. Almost anything that doesn't dissolve straight away can act as a resist.
Gosh - I only ever washedoff with water, didn;t know I was supposed to use bicarb!!
I bought the etching paste, and you can paint it on using a paintbrush and leave areas un - etched.
Washing with plenty of water should be enough, but a strong solution of bicarb helps neutralise the acid.
I use fishing line too, it's easier than string to rinse all the acid off.
I wear those thin latex gloves in case of drips.
Different glasses might need different etching times, some take longer to see results.
never used bicarb - just a good rinse :)
Thanks for posting this Grandmabead - I have had a jar of this stuff sitting on my shelf for about 2 months and really want to try it but was nervous.....
Got fishing line, got surgical gloves, got bicarb!!!
Kaz
only etch in plastic, i once used a porclin bowl to etch and it was ruined and i know a few people on here have etched in a glass bowl.
And i just wash mine in water and washing up liquid afterwards, 5 mins is enough etching for most glass
I keep all my etching paraphenalia in a big plastic tub, lined with kitchen roll. I put the beads in a small plastic tub and pour the etching fluid over them - leave them for 10 minutes (or an occasional A&E shift if I'm having a particularly forgetful day) - then use a plastic tea strainer to pour the fluid back in the bottle.
Then all the beads go into a plastic jug and get thoroughly rinsed and rubbed under lots of cold running water, and dried off on a tea towel.
Oh and I use a wooden cocktail stick to turn all the beads over in the fluid.
All this info is great - thanks girls :-* much appreciated.
I am going to start etching in a while so will bear all this info in mind. I'll let you know the results.
I was just musing.......
I must say that i am a little apprehensive about using this etching fluid, the tiny amount of info on the bottle is, to say the least, pretty inadequate. I am quite surprised that supplies like this don't come with a Health & Safety type leaflet. Are there no laws/guidelines governing the use of this type of chemical for the hobby user?
All the really useful safety info/advice i have found comes from hours of reading up on the subject on the net on forums like this, from people who are more experienced and are good enough to share their knowledge with the rest of us. Thank God they do because i would never have known just how dangerous this etching fluid can be to your health...........cancer fer chrissakes!
Maybe i am just a silly old worrier but having survived cancer myself i do worry a little that so many young people are taking up lampworking and that they may not be aware of the risks involved with many of the techniques/materials they use.
I know that when i was deciding whether to take up lampworking i was entranced by all the fabulous beads being made by gifted artists and spent most of the time looking at their website/Etsy shops etc and never really came across safety advice or comments to make me hesitate. It was only after i had bought all the kit and paraphenalia that i discovered forums like this where safety and good old common sense was freely available to guide me. This leads me to wonder just how many folks are out there happily torching away without a good grounding in safety measures they should be taking. Even when i was on my lampworking course, there were no extractors in the room nor were we told that fumes from using various materials on our beads gave off dangerous toxins.
Sorry, i am just an old worrybags! :'(
I think you will find reams of stuff on most forums about the safety aspects - it just needs reading (like the small print on an insurance policy). The difference with an insurance policy is that it isn't hidden but I guess you do need to know to look.
Just for the record - etch all burns if you accidently get it on your skin. Not instantly but within a few mins - but it washes off and it didn't leave anything except a small red area that cleared up in a couple of hours. ::)
I'm a bit slap dash and just chuck a load of beads in on cotton string, then shake them up every couple of mins or so - when I remember! I once left some beads in the solution for 2 days by accident, with no terrible effects at all, they were just very nice to touch. I rinse in running water, then dump in a bi-carb solution, it does make a slight difference to surface texture I think - though that could be my imagination...
Thanks everyone - here's my first etched beads. I hated them as they were some of my first and very un-round but i like them better now they are etched, it's a great way to pretty up uninteresting beads innit?
Sweated with fear of poisoning myself but after being gowned up like a doctor preparing to do open heart surgery i survived to etch another day..........i will always be wary though......old age makes you value your life a lot more than when you're a spring chicken.
:D
(http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn301/theshadowcats/etching-20-08-08006.jpg)
OOOOOh super beads, I have a heap of ones ready to etch too, I have the fluid but like you was a bit worries.I think I may give it a go later today, some beads look so fab when etched. I these ones look super. I reckon I will take the plunge it may stop me from buying more beads off etsy!!!! I am trying to hold off until Saturday at Stourbridge. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::)
Quote from: grandmabead on August 20, 2008, 01:54:12 PM
i like them better now they are etched, it's a great way to pretty up uninteresting beads innit?
Yessss!
;D ;D
Those are pretty beads. 8) Etching does give them such a nice finish.
I have some etching fluid and haven't tried it yet. Must get my finger out and do stuff, there is so much to learn. ;D
Those are some lovely results :D
xxx
I just love etched beads, especially transparent ones ;D
I think I know that it will be OK, but just wanted to be sure - is it OK to etch beads with SIS and silver wire on them?
Just been to Asda Doncaster where I have to say they have a good selection of "stuff" - got plastic bowls (50p each), plastic tea-strainer (34p), plastic jug (25p), plastic tongs (37p), an ice-cream scoop as recommended by Teresa Laliberte in the goddess tutorial (£1.70 - flashing the cash there!) and some amazing tiny plastic food storers that will be great for my loose frit (24p each). Blooming well forgot the bicarb - I hope I have some in the store cupboard.
Kaz
Here's a wine bottle bead selectively etched. Taking a good photo of these is difficult as there are so many reflections, but this was taken in daylight against a Creation Station black rubber elbow mat.
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1426/5604171/11160190/331163085.jpg)
It's easier to photo a bead that has been fully etched.
oooh
had a go at etching this morning, it took ages!! I put the beads into a plastic container and put the etching fluid on. I had to wait 40 mins before anything happened!!!!
The beads look nice so I shall have another go next week ;D ;D ;D
Pat that semi-etched bead is lovely, given me some ideas to try out next time - thanks.
turquoise - it only took 15 mins for my beads to etch! :-\ Go figure?
Depends on which glass they are, I think
Ordered some etching fluid from Martin today....been meaning to get some for ages!!
Thanks for the shopping list Kaz, although my Asda didn't have any plastic tea strainers - go figure :D
Pam love that partly etched bead ;D
Quote from: turquoise on August 21, 2008, 04:22:54 PM
oooh
had a go at etching this morning, it took ages!! I put the beads into a plastic container and put the etching fluid on. I had to wait 40 mins before anything happened!!!!
The beads look nice so I shall have another go next week ;D ;D ;D
I have found that some glass resists etching (CIM greens I think) but you can't always tell that the etch has worked till after you've washed and dried the beads ... oops that reminds me, must just go and get my beads out of the etching fluid! :D
Found these instructions on bead etching from Etchall who make 'Dip n Etch'
http://www.etchallstore.com/etch_beads.htm (http://www.etchallstore.com/etch_beads.htm)
:) Roy
btw i found some etching fluid in Maplins that is cheap!!! It's Ferric Chloride! Does anybody know if it's suitable for etching glass beads? I wonder if 'Dip n Etch' is in fact just Ferric Chloride!!! ???
Roy :)
Quote from: beadmonkey on August 22, 2008, 12:11:38 AM
Found these instructions on bead etching from Etchall who make 'Dip n Etch'
http://www.etchallstore.com/etch_beads.htm (http://www.etchallstore.com/etch_beads.htm)
:) Roy
Interesting - absolutely no warnings about H&S!
Thanks for this Roy.
Kaz
Quote from: Kaz on August 22, 2008, 07:07:03 AM
Quote from: beadmonkey on August 22, 2008, 12:11:38 AM
Found these instructions on bead etching from Etchall who make 'Dip n Etch'
http://www.etchallstore.com/etch_beads.htm (http://www.etchallstore.com/etch_beads.htm)
:) Roy
Interesting - absolutely no warnings about H&S!
Thanks for this Roy.
Kaz
Hi
Kaz. Yep, i find it extremely odd that H&S warnings are thin on the ground with the etching fluid too - you would think that there would have to be better info available even if the stuff is imported. Oh well, we'll all go to Bead Heaven i suppose!
:'( ;D
P.S. still faffing around.....beads on their way soon, hopefully
Thanks for the link
Roy
Quote from: grandmabead on August 22, 2008, 08:23:50 AM
Oh well, we'll all go to Bead Heaven i suppose!
Only if you try drinking the stuff.
It seems that Ferric Chloride will NOT etch glass. :(
My cooking would though :P
xx
I wondered when you mentioned Maplin, Roy, won't that be for etching circuit boards?
Yes Mary; that is the stuff. I thought if it would etch copper then it would do glass as well :-[. OK, I'm not too ashamed to say I failed my Chemistry O'level ;D
Les, you must have gone to the same cookery school as my wife ;D
Roy :)
Quote from: Les on August 24, 2008, 11:25:38 AM
My cooking would though :P
Hehe!
Etch All is supposed to be safer than the long time "standard" glass etch - which is hydrofluoric acid (HF). HF is so agressive and nasty that it is possible to get the stuff to explode on contact with light (which is why is it kept in a dark bottle.)
Etch all and that blue pasty stuff you used to get before Etch All was imported contains ammonium bifluoride. This is supposed to be safer than HF. HF should be handled with EXTREME care and never ever without gloves. It will burn flesh and keep going unless it is neutralised with a strong alkali.
However, ammonium bifluoride will convert portions of the fluorides to HF when dissolved in water so although it is claimed to be safer than the old fashioned glass etchants I would still take great care with it.
You ought to neutralise it with Bicarb after you've etched. Any residual etchant left on the bead surface could act as a skin irritant if you were using the beads in jewellery. Don't forget the bead hole - which is a great harbourer of etchant, too. Clean it out thoroughly.
You won't get safety sheets with Etch-All as it is imported from the States and presumably - they don't have to adhere to COSH standards the same way as we have to. You SHOULD have a safety sheet with this stuff though as it is potentially very nasty. I have no idea why Etch-all seem to be able to get away with selling this stuff without a MSDS safety sheet.
You will find that you get varying results etch-wise according to the temperature of the fluid - this is why some people's beads etch quicker than others. It will etch very quickly as the temperature goes up.
Grandma - yes, cancer is a potential risk with many aspects of beadmaking. Not wanting to frighten the willies out of everyone, but I think perhaps your biggest potential threat is that really innocent looking bead release. In powder form it contains some very nasty and possibly carcinogenic repiratory irritants. Don't go breathing it in - get your beads off the mandrels under water. Keep your dust levels down. Be careful also with those fibre blankets and vermiculite. Avoid breathing any dust or fibres in from them and NEVER do enamels or fuming without GOOD ventilation and a respirator. That's a respirator NOT one of those white dust masks thingies.
(Puts wagging finger back in its box........) ;)
I just dangle my beads in the pot on a piece of tiger tail - should I be transferring it to another container? ???
I also thought that my beads weren't etching...until I realised that you only see the effect once they're dry! All the time they're in the etching fluid the will still look shiny. This didn't actually occur to me until I was washing a wine glass with an etched stem and noticed that it was shiny when wet! :D
Quote from: Lush! on August 20, 2008, 09:58:13 AM
I keep all my etching paraphenalia in a big plastic tub, lined with kitchen roll. I put the beads in a small plastic tub and pour the etching fluid over them - leave them for 10 minutes (or an occasional A&E shift if I'm having a particularly forgetful day) - then use a plastic tea strainer to pour the fluid back in the bottle.
Then all the beads go into a plastic jug and get thoroughly rinsed and rubbed under lots of cold running water, and dried off on a tea towel.
Thats basically what I do, except in place of a plastic tea strainer, I use a plastic funnel.. just because I've got one ;D ;D
QuoteWashing with plenty of water should be enough, but a strong solution of bicarb helps neutralise the acid.
How much bicarb should you use? ie half a pint of water and 2 teaspoons of bicarb for instance. :-\
I have got to try etching, the thought of it is driving me mad. I wake up in the morning thinking about it. I guess that's obsession. ::)
Please tell me i'm not the only one that has obsessive thoughts about glass and what we can do with it. LOL :P
Quote from: mad bunny on September 10, 2008, 09:11:48 PM
QuoteWashing with plenty of water should be enough, but a strong solution of bicarb helps neutralise the acid.
How much bicarb should you use? ie half a pint of water and 2 teaspoons of bicarb for instance. :-\
I have got to try etching, the thought of it is driving me mad. I wake up in the morning thinking about it. I guess that's obsession. ::)
Please tell me i'm not the only one that has obsessive thoughts about glass and what we can do with it. LOL :P
Nah I'm just the same I' m itching to try etching ( that sounds weird lol ) but I only want a small pot I also dream about getting neat ends when I'm using my presses ...all I seem to do is dream about it cos they never are lol
Quote from: mad bunny on September 10, 2008, 09:11:48 PM
QuoteWashing with plenty of water should be enough, but a strong solution of bicarb helps neutralise the acid.
How much bicarb should you use? ie half a pint of water and 2 teaspoons of bicarb for instance. :-\
I have got to try etching, the thought of it is driving me mad. I wake up in the morning thinking about it. I guess that's obsession. ::)
Please tell me i'm not the only one that has obsessive thoughts about glass and what we can do with it. LOL :P
About 2 teaspoons in a smallish receptacle should do it - you should be getting some fizzing when you put the acid coated bead in. I then swish them around a bit before dunking in boiling water with some washing up liquid in. I then pour the acid back into the container and then pour the bicarb solution into the container that had the acid to neutralise it. I also wipe the outside of the etching solution container with the bicarb solution.
BTW waking up thinking about anything to do with beads is perfectly normal, so don't expect to get over it!
Kaz
Hi all,
I am newbie in this group, and just read through this thread and I am getting goosebumbs reading about how this etching stuff is used!
First of all, there is a safety-data sheet on one of the etching products used by beadmakers:
http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=brands&id=1029001 (http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=brands&id=1029001)
To cut a long story short: the two chemicals used in etching solutions are supposed to be milder than Hydroflouric acid. Still, when mixed in a watery solution, they form a weak solution of HF.
The problem with HF is, that it is very, very dangerous, even in weak solutions. That just makes the effect taking longer.
Apart from the immediate risk of direct contact with the stuff, the worst is the fumes. Your body absorb those, not only through the respitory system, but by you scin as well.
And you cannot rinse it off with water or anything else. It may look like you washed it off, but the damage is done, the HF is working its way through the tissue and will end up in your bones which it will soften and degrade.
The process is irreversible, even if you get medical treatment right away.
Since we are working with weak solutions, it may take years before the effect shows - soft, brittle bones. Not fun.
There are rules about Health and Safety sheets, but not all countries follow them. By EU legislation, Health and safety sheets has to be available on request by all sellers, meaning as a customer you have to ASK for it. Many sellers "forget" to tell their customers, and don't have the info available.
In Denmark HF is banned, and I was surpriced to find etching fluid being sold. But as often seen, sellers didn't know (or turned the blind eye) about safety. It seems there is a gab in the law, so the chemicals used are not labeled as dangerous as they are.
I have discussed this with a friend of mine who is a lector in chemistry at the university, she was uphauled that such stuff is on the market at all.
According to chemistry student rules, and workers safety organisation it has to be treated like this:
Personel is to be clad in etchproof "spacesuits", full body protection with external air supply.
The etching is done in a fume cabinet, with a completely sealed air system.
Only a very few companies have got the equipment, the special education and the special license to use the stuff, and they are being monitored very closely.
If you want more details, search the net for health risc on Hydroflouric acid, and just remember that a weaker solution does the same but takes longer (years) to show the effect.
This is a true horror story!
And once and for all - no other acids but HF will attach glass! so the only alternative is a mechanical surface treatment.
I use a polishing tumbler, with siliconoxide grid 400, it takes 24 hours to tumble a portion of glass, but is completely harmless.
Alternatively a glassblowing cabinet is on my wishing list - no way I am having any etching stuff on my property in anyway what so ever!
Even though I am used to play with chemicals, that is the sort of thing goldsmiths do....
Kathe; Denmark
I've just seen this and read the report - very scary indeed!! I might get rid of my etching fluid on that basis - I had no idea it was so dangerous :(
Quote from: Redhotsal on August 25, 2008, 12:32:01 AM
Avoid breathing any dust or fibres in from them and NEVER do enamels or fuming without GOOD ventilation and a respirator. That's a respirator NOT one of those white dust masks thingies.
(Puts wagging finger back in its box........) ;)
Hopefully not a daft question - is there a specific type of respirator we should be using, there seem to be a lot on the market (having looked at Axminster Tools). Is there a definition of type?
Hi ,
This is interesting. All products have a MSDS documents that the manufacturer holds for their item . This wil include the ingrediants , the risks and the information that the medical profession might well need in case of an accident or more commonly the risks for couriers and shippers in case the product is split in transit . We currently carry these on various products including bead release and glass.
From our experience the European manufacturers are the worst at supplying these , 1 really big European glass manufacturer refuses point blank to provide this sheet and 1 European bead release maker dosn't offer one or even know what it is, these suppliers we do not work with because of this and do not stock these products as we need to hold copies of MSDS sheets incase of an incident.
I have emailed Bob at Etch All to get an updated MSDS sheet for our records , suppliers are very reluctant to supply these incase competitors use them to copy their products.
I can only talk of my experience of Etch All and i have never, in 15 years been hurt by it or had a burn , never had a customer have a problem and never had a courier refuse to ship it anywhere in the world. As a ex scientific glassblower who worked in labs i have worked with neat HF acid before and i promise you Etch All is a far safer solution , as an aprentice the boss would show us pictures of HF burns to make sure you never played with it and that is very nasty stuff indeed.
martin
Perhaps a safety sheet minus ingredients would be a compromise Martin? The main ingredient stated on my bottle is none of the ones listed on that site provided though
Hi ,
I'll talk with Bob as soon as he is up and at work .
martin
If anyone is looking to ditch their Etchall, could they send it my way please, because my bottle is looking a little empty.
I have just found this for etch all http://www.edhoy.com/pdf/50663_50664_and_50665_MSDS.pdf
If medical professionals need these in case of accidents it might be an idea to print it out and keep it with the product. Maybe suppliers might consider sending them with the products just to make people aware of the risks and safety precautions to minimise these.
Off to try and find one for bead release now.
Sarah that link was very interesting reading, etch all seems pretty safe to me AS LONG AS you know how to handle it correctly and what to do if you have an accident etc
I worked in a laboratory for almost 2 years, etch all is a mere kitten compared to what i used to work with ;)
That was brill, thanks Sarah. I have to say that I wasn't that concerned about it as long as you follow the instructions and precautions and this datasheet is very useful. :)
Hi ,
Bob at Etch All has also sent me this link ,
www.youtube.com/user/etchallvideo
which shows you upto 7 videos on the use of and safety of Etch All.
cheers ,
martin
Hi Folks,
so glad my post triggered a debate on safety with this stuff, I think AWARENESS is the keyword, and hats off to you Martin for your positive approach to this. In Denmark safety sheets are difficult to get too, in general - many sellers don't even know they are obliged to have them for the customers.
I am not saying don't use etching stuff, don't get me wrong - my point is KNOW what your are dealing with, and act responsively. Personally I am happy with my polishing drum, but yes, one day I will try etching cream too, but knowing what I do I will keep it in a shed and use it in free air, not in the house.
Etch all seems a lot safer than Armour etch, as I understand it is etching stuff that contains ammonium biflouride as well as barium sulphate (if I remember correctly) that are the worst.
Actual MSDS for Armour etch here:
http://whatsinproducts.com/msds.php?brandId=9767
I just wish we as byers/users of chemials etc. could be presented with facts and figures about the products, so we can choose and use safely!
And please don't see me as a sour old grump, 'cos I'm not... :-)
Happy etching,
Kathe