Hi, this is a method I have devised that is relatively easy and cheaply done with pretty good results.
The materials used are a reclaimed computer power supply,Qtips,salt water and vinyl stencils I had made by a local company that does advertising signs.They were a bit puzzled at my request and later I returned to show them exactly what I was doing with them.Soon they were saying AHHHH...We see now..
The first step is to remove a stencil from the sheet .They can cut many out of a piece of scrap vinyl and the cost is very reasonable.Here there are two rows of stencils.I have cut one away to get it ready.
I then remove the parts of the stencil that will be used for the actual stencil.The sign pros call this "weeding out" I use a needle stuck in a pencil eraser and tweezers to remove the pieces.
The outer "frame" of my mark is an anvil.I use the Letter M inside it .I tried to keep it simple and make it easier to weed out.If you decide to try this method get with your local sign co. and they have software to help you get it designed.Then get a sample cut to see if it will work before they cut too many.It saves time and these guys are really busy most of the time.Here I have placed the outline on the blade and got it pressed on good.They're peel and stick, no messy tape and the etch doesnt undermine the stencil.
I then place the M inside the outline and press it to the blade securing it .
Now were are ready to begin etching.
Now for the electrical part of the process.I guess you could use one of those DC adaptors you have left from some device that bit the bullet long ago.The best voltages I have found range from 3 to 6 volts.I had a computer supply handy and isolated two wires with 5 volts DC.Ive read where AC was required to get a black mark but have not had any problems getting a black mark this way.
I added alligator clips to the wire ends to make it easier to clamp to the blade and Qtip.
Now I take a small glass of water and put in a spoon of salt .This is our etching solution. I then take a Qtip and clamp the negative clip to the head of the Qtip dampened with the solution leaving at least 1/4" of the tip below the clip.DO not allow the metal clip to contact the blade or it will short out and most likely kill your power supply. Clamp the positive clip to the blade and pat pat pat pat the wet Qtip onto the stenciled area being careful not to allow any solution to touch outside the area masked off with stencil.I guess its the patting action that gives the etch its darkened color.I'm not sure.Just holding it on it will etch it but patting it seems to be the best.It doesnt take very long at all to get a good deep etch.One solid minute will do well.If the Qtip gets dirty looking and it will,change it .It usually takes two per etch.
Here it is etched .Now to "set" the black oxides on the blade and remove the salt I run hot water over the etched area and then remove the stencil.
Now the finished mark.Less than 5 minutes.No developing photo sensitive screen that cloggs.No reusing stencils,(theres 50 on that sheet).
Thanks for checking this out.I like doing things cheaply as possible and this works for me.
The materials used are a reclaimed computer power supply,Qtips,salt water and vinyl stencils I had made by a local company that does advertising signs.They were a bit puzzled at my request and later I returned to show them exactly what I was doing with them.Soon they were saying AHHHH...We see now..
The first step is to remove a stencil from the sheet .They can cut many out of a piece of scrap vinyl and the cost is very reasonable.Here there are two rows of stencils.I have cut one away to get it ready.
I then remove the parts of the stencil that will be used for the actual stencil.The sign pros call this "weeding out" I use a needle stuck in a pencil eraser and tweezers to remove the pieces.
The outer "frame" of my mark is an anvil.I use the Letter M inside it .I tried to keep it simple and make it easier to weed out.If you decide to try this method get with your local sign co. and they have software to help you get it designed.Then get a sample cut to see if it will work before they cut too many.It saves time and these guys are really busy most of the time.Here I have placed the outline on the blade and got it pressed on good.They're peel and stick, no messy tape and the etch doesnt undermine the stencil.
I then place the M inside the outline and press it to the blade securing it .
Now were are ready to begin etching.
Now for the electrical part of the process.I guess you could use one of those DC adaptors you have left from some device that bit the bullet long ago.The best voltages I have found range from 3 to 6 volts.I had a computer supply handy and isolated two wires with 5 volts DC.Ive read where AC was required to get a black mark but have not had any problems getting a black mark this way.
I added alligator clips to the wire ends to make it easier to clamp to the blade and Qtip.
Now I take a small glass of water and put in a spoon of salt .This is our etching solution. I then take a Qtip and clamp the negative clip to the head of the Qtip dampened with the solution leaving at least 1/4" of the tip below the clip.DO not allow the metal clip to contact the blade or it will short out and most likely kill your power supply. Clamp the positive clip to the blade and pat pat pat pat the wet Qtip onto the stenciled area being careful not to allow any solution to touch outside the area masked off with stencil.I guess its the patting action that gives the etch its darkened color.I'm not sure.Just holding it on it will etch it but patting it seems to be the best.It doesnt take very long at all to get a good deep etch.One solid minute will do well.If the Qtip gets dirty looking and it will,change it .It usually takes two per etch.
Here it is etched .Now to "set" the black oxides on the blade and remove the salt I run hot water over the etched area and then remove the stencil.
Now the finished mark.Less than 5 minutes.No developing photo sensitive screen that cloggs.No reusing stencils,(theres 50 on that sheet).
Thanks for checking this out.I like doing things cheaply as possible and this works for me.
Glenn
