Etching Metal

[archammer2]

Hola, folks. Your friendly neighborhood ArcHammer2 here.

I've got the itch again. The urge to make a new saber, and to make one better than my previous ones. Better becuase it's for a close friend.
The thing is, I was wanting to do a cool flames design across the saber. Thought about using PVC and cutting the design out, but that's far roo many tiny cuts for my current equipment. So, we (friend and I) thought about etching the design on the blade.

Yes, I think I mentioned etching metal before, but this time I actually have an answer to my dilema. Still, I'd like to hear if anyone else has tried etching metal and what kind of results they've had.

After a couple google searches, I found a method that was pretty much "dip metal in this liquid and wait 20 minutes". The "etching compound" that's used on circut boards and can be bought for $5 at Radio Shack. :P

So, has anyone tried this? Anyone have alternate methods?
I'll post pics when I try it (moving this weekend, so it might be a while).


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[Jonitus]

I've etched my own circuit boards before, and provided that your metal is perfectly clean and you have your design drawn out exactly how you want, it should work just fine.

Please be sure to heed all safety precautions when etching, as the chemicals are quite unfriendly to human tissues.

...I love the Dark Side, but I have a night light.

[virus692]

I all I can think of is...
Code Monkey get up, get etching...
Ahhh code monkey.

now that that is out of the way. sounds cool I have done mirrors but, not a saber yet.[}]

Good Luck with that. Some pictures when your are done would be cool.

VIrus 692- [img=left] http://e.deviantart.com/emoticons/j/jedi.gif[/img=left]
Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of in·san·i·ty!

[archammer2]

I can get "perfectly clean", I think. I'm meticulous about that (when I want to be).

Jonitus:
Yeah, I read the whole "rubber gloves and rubber apron" thing. Blah, blah, blah. I'll just pour it into my mouth and spit it on the saber. Good effects that way.
(Yes, I started as a chem major in college and I rememebr all the "if you spill this on you, prepare to lose a limb" lectures... and horror stories)

virus692:
Code Monkey get up, get coffee
Code Monkey go to job
Code Monkey have boring meeting
Boring manager, Rob.

.. I can quote the whole song... Even better since I'm a programmer. XD

I'll try it out sometime soon and post pics. ^_^

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[GFORCE13]

Well you know because someone took out something with the Stuff they have to give you the Important Safety Lecture.[]

<center>
" I am a Jedi like my Father before me"

</center>

[Jonitus]

Mock the safety warnings if you must, but I am a safety professional, so it comes with the territory. Add to that, too many people have too cavalier an attitude with hazardous chemicals and working with tools.

Knowing how "uncool" it is to pick up something as simple as a dust mask to use when working with etching chemicals, you won't do it...and that's fine.

If a "cool" lightsaber is worth liver cancer because you didn't heed the safety warnings, more power to you.

...stepping off soapbox, putting on safety glasses compliant with ANSI Z87, putting on OSHA approved and current fit-tested respirator and going back to work...

...I love the Dark Side, but I have a night light.

[archammer2]

Dude... Chill. I know. I lrean some lessons the hard way (like spending the safety glasses that don't have a s***load of holes around the edges. But when it comes to chemicals, I'm careful. Practically paranoid. Actually, that's why I bought the lead-free solder. Just in case something happened, ya know? Lead's a neurotoxin and silver can't hurt quite that much unless I suddenly become a waresolf... Which would explain the hair...

I've heard the horror stories. A guy bumps a tank and it gives a puff of gas.. that eats through his finger to the bone. When it comes to my lungs, heart, eyes and hands, I take every precaution I can (and I've still burned my hand when I got careless).
I'm going to take every precaution here. Gloves, apron, well-ventalated area, and all the other stuff I haven't read yet.

Hmm... How "cool" would a saber have to be to make liver cancer okay? ... Wow, that saber would be badass! (Yes, don't start taking me seriously on this one)

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[Madcow]

I'd like to hear ho it goes. I've considered etching a logo into my sabers.

MC



You want to go home and re-think your life

[Lord Maul]

what are you going to etch on your saber?

At last we will reveal ourselves to the jedi, at last we will have revenge.

[archammer2]

Well, the first trial is complete. Not the best job in the world, but it was most definitely a learning experience.

I was wanting to etch a sort of flame pattern into the tube. I know for smaller things (like logos), there are sand-blasting kits and stencils one can use.

Odd that while the outside of the tube is kinda blotty, the inside of the tube is a pretty evenly-clated pink. Maybe becuase the inside had slow leaks and the outside had bits of PVC around it.

Pardon my crappy webcam pics.




One side it nice and looke pretty cool, I must say. The other side... not so much.




I think this is becuase I had it tilted as I was holding it and didn't move it much. Now I know. And knowing is half the battle.

Lessons Learned:
- When the last step of a procedure is "Pour down toilet and flush", the first step should be "Make sure toilet isn't clogged".

- If you think the toilet may be clogged and it's full of etching solution, don't flush it!! Yes, I had to learn this the hard way.

- Towels are cheap. Floors aren't.

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