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11/22/2011 4:21:27 AM EDT
I am working on a 1911 build for my Father, and want to engrave it. I have seen the electro-etching done on this forum, but I wasn't 100% clear.


First of, can this even be done with steel?

Second, where can I get the cutouts? I believe he said they were vinyl.

Third, would the standard battery charger work? Or would I need something a little stronger?



Any help would be greatly appreciated, as I have no idea what I am doing when it comes to this process.
11/22/2011 5:07:10 AM EDT
[#1]
Try asking Vader Spade in this thread (or it might already be covered in there somewhere), the guy knows way more than most here about that.



http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_4/484783_Vader_Spade_s_80__AR_15_build___Milling__Etching__and_Anodizing.html
11/22/2011 6:58:47 AM EDT
[#2]
Quoted:
I am working on a 1911 build for my Father, and want to engrave it. I have seen the electro-etching done on this forum, but I wasn't 100% clear.


First of, can this even be done with steel? Yes it can!

Second, where can I get the cutouts? I believe he said they were vinyl.Any good sign shop should be able to help.

Third, would the standard battery charger work? Or would I need something a little stronger? That should work. Keep in mind it's not power, but time that makes the deep etch.


Any help would be greatly appreciated, as I have no idea what I am doing when it comes to this process.


With tha being said I would practice on some scrap well before I did something like this. I have an etch-o-matic and I still mess things up from time to time.
Etchomatic


11/22/2011 7:56:37 AM EDT
[#3]
I already shot a PM over to Vader asking for some help.


As for the etcho-matic, I was actually looking into that product, but I hate to have to spend another 150ish bucks on the stencil maker. That is why I wanted to try this method first.
11/22/2011 8:40:55 PM EDT
[#4]
Quoted:
I am working on a 1911 build for my Father, and want to engrave it. I have seen the electro-etching done on this forum, but I wasn't 100% clear.


First of, can this even be done with steel?

Second, where can I get the cutouts? I believe he said they were vinyl.

Third, would the standard battery charger work? Or would I need something a little stronger?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, as I have no idea what I am doing when it comes to this process.



Instead of vinyl you can use photoresist film.
I did it with great success.

I didn't make pictures, but you can see photos in this ebay item (scroll down)

link to photoresist film and how to use it


Some more info in my older post
using photoresist film



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