How to Etch Metal
Datetime:2013-10-01 Hits:
This is about etching metal plates with nitric acid.
Instructions
1
Etchings on metal is an outgrowth of the printing industry where these etched metal plates are used directly in a printing press. In this process ink is applied to the etching then it is printed on a suitable paper or other media. Etched metal plates are also used on their own as an artform. In this case the metal etching is mounted and framed. It is then displayed as a work of art.
2
Making a metal etching depends on your artistic ability to draw well. It also draws on your ability to handle chemicals because you have to use a dilute solution of nitric acid to do the physical etching of the metal.
The first thing you have to do is pick out a piece of metal to etch. Art and craft stores often stock the metal, if they don't the necessary metal sheets can be bought at a metal supply house. The most common metal that is used for etching is copper followed by aluminum. These are the easiest metals to etch.
To prepare the metal for etching you have to cover the face of the metal with a thin layer of wax. The best kind of wax is bees wax although paraffin will work as well. After this thin layer of wax has hardened it is time to start making the master for the etching. This is done with a sharp pointed stylus that is capable of cutting through the wax layer. You might want to have several different sizes of pointed stylus's available for different sized lines.
When you have completed drawing your picture on the wax using the stylus's you are now ready to etch the pattern into the metal. This is done with a dilute solution of nitric acid, 10% nitric acid will work.
