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As requested in this post, This is how I etch my knife blades, but you can etch pretty much anything using this method.
You should be able to find everything around your home, the only other thing you need is access to a laser printer.
It would take a long time to get a thick piece of metal like a hammer up to a temp where the toner will stick though.
Practice on scrap before you try and etch your best tools. Anyhow enjoy....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kROUeOtuXmE
Quick 'n dirty? I wouldn't say that.
Quick 'n easy? Definitely! :2tsup:
Well... easy to source the kit needed to do it, anyway. The 'doing' may take a bit of practice, but isn't that always the case? Now, here's hoping my Mrs won't mind some of her cutlery disappearing into the shed for a day or three! :innocent:
Hey Corin. Great stuff. Thank you for sharing your method. Can't wait to give it a try.
I used to make printed circuit boards, using an aerosol positive photo-sensitive etch-resist. (I believe it also comes in a negative version.) I could see that possibly working well too, for transferring the pattern. After light exposure, about 90 seconds strong UV, it can be developed using 10g/litre of caustic soda in water. Nowadays, I use pre-sensitised boards, but the aerosol versions would still be available.
I saved a copy of your vid for reference via KeepVid: Download and save any video from Youtube, Dailymotion, Metacafe, iFilm and more!. Hope you don't mind.
I found this thread while researching a method to put maker's marks on timber. Tried that earlier, but didn't think of wetting and rubbing off the paper, so the toner peeled when I tried to remove the paper. I figured part of the reason was that I only printed on std printer paper and so considered transparency film, but the heat would kill it. Glossy magazine paper is a great idea. I'm going to have a go at making small metal plaques using your method, similar to the Vidi ones.
Thanks again, a top idea. :2tsup::2tsup::2tsup:
Great tip Corin,
Great to watch, looks easy; after a couple of hundred I suppose.
Thanks for sharing,
Mark