Etching ?

P

Plas62

Well-Known Member
I have a Personalizer Plus etching machine. I have been practicing on some unhardened O1 steel. I am using a stencil from IMG along with their #94 etching solution for carbon steel.

I am able to get a nice clean deep etch in Etch mode (vdc), but I have been having trouble getting the deep etch to darken completely in "Mark" mode (vac).

Does anyone have any suggestions or tips to get the etch to darken completely and evenly?

I have even considered making a deep etch and then "Bluing" it in order to darken it has anyone ever tried this?

Jim
 
Hint....Hint..... Forney "black paint marker". Let it dry, then LIGHTLY sand with 2000 grit. That particular paint marker is the only one I've found that is solvent proof, and you can do it on a damascus blade, then etch, and it stays put.
OH! Did I say that out loud?!?!? :34:
 
Thanks for that bit of info Ed - I just placed an order for this: 'Forney 60313 Paint Marker, Black' by Forney

I hope that's the right one?

Ken H>
 
That's strange. I've never had a problem getting a black mark with a Personalizer Plus. Are you using a cotton pad? Just damp, not dripping wet.
 
I use the DC on my Personalizer for DEEP cut, and then the AC setting for Dark. I have the knob set at about 4 1/2 to do this.
Also I spray the steel with a light spritz of windex before I put the stencil down. It helps keep from getting the fuzz or halo around my mark.
 
rhinoknives said:
I use the DC on my Personalizer for DEEP cut, and then the AC setting for Dark. I have the knob set at about 4 1/2 to do this.
Also I spray the steel with a light spritz of windex before I put the stencil down. It helps keep from getting the fuzz or halo around my mark.
Click to expand...

Yes, by all means clean the steel first. I use alcohol. No, not that. Rubbing alcohol.
 
Thanks for the tips fellows, I'm using deep etch pads that I bought from IMG.

Don where did you get your pads from?

I'll try the windex and order one of those paint pens you recommended Ed and then practice some more.
 
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