Etching Brass?

[Boyd]

I'd like to etch some custom name plates for my workbenches and I remember reading a thread a few months/years back where a member restored an industrial type band saw. Part of that awesome restoration included making new data plates...does this ring a bell with anyone? I've tried the search function but came up empty.

Thanks.

 

[c/o say]

There is a great how to on ratrodbikes.com about making custom headbadges. That will tell you what you are wanting to know. Sorry don't know how to post a link. Its in the how to section.

 

[Imwalkin]

Also a great tech in the Hamb tech section

 

[zuk123]

This guy does a lot of really cool and creative stuff in a 'steampunk' style. His write up on etching looks pretty easy and straightforward.

http://steampunkworkshop.com/electroetch.shtml

zuk

 

[cnc-me]

Check out member A_Pmech, he made some tags for a Do-All bandsaw.

 

[metalmagpie]

Hmm. I restored a 14" Walker Turner bandsaw back in 1997, which included making new nameplates. Back then we all posted to r.c.m. - is it possible you are remembering my old postings? Anyway, I made mine by doing the artwork on the computer, then printing it out and taking it to a trophy shop which had a "photo lathe". I don't recall the precise details anymore but it seems to me that you bought an 11x17" sheet of brass coated in enamel on one side (mine was red). They wrapped the sheet around a drum made to hold sheets like that, and taped my printed-out sheets to another drum which ran under a photodetector. They started up the lathe and slowly walked a .005" cutter the width of the brass sheet. The cutter cut when dark lines were present, and didn't when they weren't. Then they handed me the sheet and let me use their bench shear to cut it into individual nameplates. I flattened them on their wooden bench with some kind of soft mallet.

So my advice is to look up trophy stores in your area, and start asking them how they make plaques.

metalmagpie

 

[rlitman]

Around here, most of the trophy shops use CNC. Some still use their old pantographs, but not many.

For etching, that laser printed resist transfer works pretty well actually. Instead of doing it electrolytically, you can use ferric chloride, and just etch with that. No wires required.