[Jewelry making - Article 00763] - Re: [Orchid] Ferric Chloride etching

[Karen Christians]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========

Carla,

>     I was taught to etch copper upside down and silver right side up.
>     I've always done it that way & have gotten good etches. I do spend
>     a lot of time brushing bubbles off my silver as it etches, but
>     that's life. 

    You are probably using two different mordants (acid). 

    Etching in Ferric chloride eats away at exposed metal which needs to
    be carried away be gravity. This is for your brass, bronze and
    copper. 

    Etching in Nitric acid, your image needs to be upward, as the
    chemical reaction between the nitric and the silver causes bubbles.
    Dipping a feather and wiping away the bubbles, allows you to see the
    progression of the etch. Much like when you are piercing silver and
    the small silver bits get into the way. You have to push them out of
    your field of vision. 

    Ferric Chloride is a slow etch. Set it and come back in an hour or
    so. Nitric etching when fresh can take minutes, so you don't want to
    go anywhere while the etch is in progress. 

-k

M E T A L W E R X
School for Jewelry and the Metalarts
50 Guinan St.
Waltham, MA 02451
781 891 3854
www.metalwerx.com
____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________