Salt Etched Copper Picture from Xerox Copy

[VWFringe]

OMG

laser print onto magazine print (thinner paper)
iron the toner onto clean smooth copper
cool in cool water
soak in warm water
peel off paper layer by layer, then rubbing with thumbs, leaving toner intact
etch in salt water (2 cups:1 gal. or 1 tsp:1 qt) attaching positive to copper and negative to plate in solution (I read someone used a 9v battery, but a car battery will work in 7 minutes - put a lightbulb inline to reduce current if working too fast)
brush off piece periodically unless you want a lot of texture in the wide-bite areas
paint and then sand high areas, leaving etched areas in relief

i have not done this, yet, but here's a link and some copper pr0n
Copper Plating and Etching Altoids Tins | The Steampunk Workshop
Electrolytic Etching of Brass | The Steampunk Workshop

 

[MagnusEunson]

That's pretty friggin' awesome. I've got a few Chucks I'm tempted to try something like that on. Thanks for the reference links too. -Magnus

 

[SuziesMom]

Holy schnikes that's incredible! I'd probably hurt myself doing that, but dang I love watching smart creative people strut their stuff.

 

[GeekyGirl36]

Holy schnikes that's incredible! I'd probably hurt myself doing that, but dang I love watching smart creative people strut their stuff.

I would also. lol

 

[ShoeQueen]

That's pretty awesome! Not sure if I trust myself to try it, but awesome nonetheless!

 

[VWFringe]

doesn't the idea of a nine-volt battery and an iron-on transfer sound easy tho? salt and water, lol, i gotta try this, with the nine-volt, sounds too crazy to be true

EDIT:
Here's another post using stencils instead of laser printing and ironing, and Q-tips and an auto battery charger instead of dunking the part (oh, and it mentions a 9v would take a month, maybe just on stainless)

http://forums.dfoggknives.com/index.php?showtopic=17602

And, another tutorial on the laser printer transfer process for PC boards and copper etching, and i guess anodizing with Rit dye: http://www.riccibitti.com/pcb/pcb.htm

 

[VWFringe]

So, from my reading all three processes can use laser-print iron-on for "resist"

anodizing aluminum,
etching metals, and
electro-plating

and each can be done with q-tips and a battery charger (google brush plating or brush anodizing, except this is more like a pen system)

and I saw anodizing of titanium with a nine-volt battery (alligator clips, piece is grounded, touch positive clip to metal through a salt-water soaked paper towel (over laser print or stencil for pattern)

i'm thinking scrollwork made easy

i want to try this with a laser-print, hahaha, and a nine volt battery,
(rofl)

 

[MagnusEunson]

I'm just trying to figure out if this is something I can handle on a rounded tube surface... at least with things like sand-blasting there is little than can turn out different than your tape once you start. So whomever does this on a torpedo shaped mod first needs to give up some pics and pointers. -Magnus

 

[dspin]

Very nice indeed, Thanks much for posting this.

 

[mekakeisei]

WEll, That's just bloody fantastic!