common household acids that will eat steel?

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siguy

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Aug 26, 2006
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until i get an etcher together and some stencils i want to experiment with doing basic marks using acids i can get around here.

i am thinking about using either nailpolish or wax masks and then laying the acid in and letting it sit until its done...

so what are some common acids that will give me a decent mark?

i know that things like lemon juice and other acidic juices will give a nice patina when left on for a while...

thanks
 
Acetic acid (vinegar) will work somewhat well. Hydrochloric acid is more aggressive and easily available at hardware stores.
 
Acetic is only 5-7 %. The HCl for pool cleaning etc is much stronger ,about the strongest acid you can get easily. Do it OUTSIDE otherwise all your tools will rust and your lungs will too .
 
I suggest using the mask like you're thinking of, but go ahead and try out a very basic etcher.

Mix up some water, salt, and maybe a very small amount of vinegar. Then grab a large 6 volt lantern battery (you know, with springs on top). Take some wires with allegator clips on each end and attach the positive lead to the blade and the negative to a cue tip (put the allegator clip on the top of the cotton). Dip the cotton tip with the allegator clip on it in the solution and sponge it off so it's not dripping, just wet, and then dab it up and down over the mask to create an etch. Do about 50, 1/2 second dabs and you'll have a nice deep etch.

--nathan
 
thanks for the suggestions guys,

nathan i think i will try that. will it work with say a 9 volt or is that not strong enough? i have a pile of those laying around already...

thanks again.
 
At what ratio do you mix the water, salt and vinegar? Will nail polish work well? Thanks and good luck, siguy.
 
9v should work just fine. You may have to experiment to find out what combo of voltage and amount of etching time works well for you.

As far as the ratio, I never measured, but I've heard a tablespoon of salt to a cup of water, and maybe instead of the vinegar, go with a few drops of dish soap. If the fluid is too acidic, it can discolor the steel.

I've never tried the masking method, but nail polish will probably work fine.

--nathan
 
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