grover1

Hi
I would like to try some Brass Etching .

Has any one used Press and Peel Blue from [link]http://www.techniks.com[/link]
is it any good ?

I know I can get all my needs from [link]http://www.jaycar.com.au[/link] here in OZ

Greg

abufletcher

That press and peel is interesting looking stuff. The challenge for me here is finding a source for ferric chloride. It's sure to exist but how a "private citizen" in Japan gets hold of chemical supplies, I'm not sure.

Patxipt

Another etching solution is equal parts of hydrogen peroxyde (H2O2) and hydrochloric acid (HCL). Works a treat and it doesn't stain.

abufletcher

What kind of acid is "car battery acid?" I've seen that for sale in the hardware store. And hydrogen preoxyde should be easily available at the phramacy.

Bundubasher

It is used to etch copper sheeted electronic boards - try a shop that sells electronic supplies or components - I use to get itin 500gram bottles- some pharmacies may stock it too. It depends on what size job you plan. It can be messy to work with - stains everything but the advantage is that you can write on the coppoer / brass with a waterproof pen and everything around it will be etched.

Bundu

abufletcher

i think the goal here is to be able to etch ALL the way through a sheet of brass to make parts.

Patxipt

Battery acid is sulphuric acid, H2SO4.
HCl is basically turning the copper in the brass to a salt, copper chloride (CuCL), while the hydrogen peroxide acts almost like a catalyst.

So we have Cu (copper) reacting with HCl (hydrochloric acid) and hydrogen peroxyde (H2O2). This gives us molecular hydrogen (H + H -> H2), water (H2O) and copper chloride (CuCl).

It's been a while since college chemistry, but that should be it.

The chloride in the ferric chloride solution (a dissolved salt) is dissociated in Fe+ and Cl-, again, another donor of chloride, but not so reagent as HCl and with that nasty iron wanting to stick to everything, like clothes.

grover1

[link]http://www.micromark.com[/link]
sells a Photo Etching System kit but doesn't export the chemical .[:@]
the MicroMark system uses a inkjet printer and the Press and Peel a laser printer .
Now not having a laser printer I may try the MicroMark system.

Greg

abufletcher

The MicroMark system is really too small to be practical for RC scale use. We need the ability to do larger sheets. In one of dcflyer's thread he shows the setup he uses.

grover1

Don
I had a look at DCflyer's thread. Look very good .

I have just talked the wife into getting a Laser printer for Christmas
Hay I need a new printer in the work shop so will give the Press and Peel a try .

Now we just have to get DCflyer's to do a full "how to " on etching

Greg

abufletcher

I thought there was a step by step demonstration in one of his threads. Maybe it was the Nieuport 11 thread. If not, maybe his Nieuport 28 thread. What was most impressive though (and for me most daunting) was his home setup to keep the chemicals at a constant temperature. I seem to remember that it involved an old crockpot and electrical wiring.

grover1

it 's a very brief post on etching with some photos but not to much detail .
Yes he dos uses a old crockpot and air bubbles but no temperature setting were on the post .

Rob (spikkkkkkk ) over on rcgroups.com
[link]http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1319543[/link]
gives some info on etching Alum but again not a lot of detail