How do you do your etching? [Archive]

.Maleficus.

08-11-2006, 03:42 PM

Yeah, that's what I read too, but I have some pretty fine details, and the cutting was pretty hard with an exacto knife. I was trying just Dremelling with the picture behind the plexi and Dremelling the black areas (what I want etched) but I didn't know if I would get it weird shaped, like if I looked at it at an angle one way and a different angle the other. But it worked better than cutting out the design...

Kumo

08-20-2006, 03:15 AM

I did that:

Once you have decided what you want in the plexy, print it. As you going to etch the draw inside the window, print the draw "mirrored".

Don't remove the protective paper form the plexy and fix your desing with tape to the plexy.

Cut carefuly with a cutter or xacto knive the areas to etch and remove the paper pieces. I protected the others areas with tape.

http://www.kusanagiweb.com/mods/files/Rayarplexi/logosml.jpg
http://www.kusanagiweb.com/mods/files/Rayarplexi/logo3sml.jpg

In the following pics, the first steps of etching. To reach that point, i "painted" carefully the area to etch with the back of the cutter. As it was a marker. First in one direction and the in the other until you get the desired level of opacity.

http://www.kusanagiweb.com/mods/files/Rayarplexi/logo4sml.jpg
http://www.kusanagiweb.com/mods/files/Rayarplexi/logo5sml.jpg

For the letters i only used the cutter for the details, the main work was did with a dremel bit.

http://www.kusanagiweb.com/mods/files/Rayarplexi/Logo2sml.jpg
http://www.kusanagiweb.com/mods/files/Rayarplexi/logo6sml.jpg

To finish the work, put some lights (in the side of the plexy, for example) to light up your desing.

http://www.kusanagiweb.com/mods/files/Rayarplexi/logo7sml.jpg
http://www.kusanagiweb.com/mods/files/Rayarplexi/finalsml.jpg

The sand paper / Frost:

(sorry i don't have pics of this process)

The work is similar. But the desing have to be bigger.

You have to protect the "non-frosteable" areas better and cut the others with a cutter. Then sand with a light sandpaper. Apply several sanding until you get the desired frost level. Don't go for a one-pass sanding.

A rough sandpaper will scratch the plexy, so use a fine grain instead.

I hope it help you a little.

Omega

08-20-2006, 04:22 AM

hmm i would also like to know how to etch (and well)

got a dremel, all kinds of sandpaper, sanding disks, bur stuff, etc

i should etch something onto ArgDawn's window.

DaveW

08-20-2006, 05:30 AM

Kumo, that's a really great little tutorial. Thanks very much, i'm thinking this should get stickied for a short while, see what the other mods think-it's a common question and your pics are nice. Good work.

-Dave

Kumo

08-20-2006, 06:05 AM

For nothing. Thank you for the comments.

I must have a pic of a sanded window anywhere. I'll post if i find it.

.Maleficus.

08-20-2006, 10:00 AM

Awesome, thanks for the help! I'll try that pretty soon, as I have to cut a new window, since I messed my other one trying the etch.

Edit: Kumo, what Dremel bit did you use?

Kumo

08-20-2006, 06:29 PM

I did it with bits of those kind

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/433/dscf0012bgr5.th.jpg (http://img138.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf0012bgr5.jpg)

The round one is vey useful for characters.

Kumo

08-21-2006, 10:35 AM

Some pics of a sanded /etched window i did some time ago:

http://www.kusanagiweb.com/mods/files/Onix/onix17sml.jpg

http://www.kusanagiweb.com/mods/files/Onix/onix18sml.jpg

The rays are made by the sand method and the characters with the dremel.

Sorry, i could post the pics a little bigger, but not better. Only i have these.

.Maleficus.

08-21-2006, 11:31 AM

Awesome, thanks man!

.Maleficus.

08-23-2006, 07:10 PM

I suppose I will post a picture of my second attempt.

Can you guess what it is?

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l257/andypwnsall/DSC00001-2.jpg

Cannibal23

08-23-2006, 07:36 PM

i had been concidering some etching. was thinking that if you had the grout remover attachment for your dreml that you could ajust the hight and maybe use the end mill bit so that your depth would always be consistant. i dont know if that has an effect on the acctual image once its lit up though. any thoughts?

Kumo

08-23-2006, 08:34 PM

Oh very nice, the gravity gun. Looks well done.

.Maleficus.

08-23-2006, 08:39 PM

Thanks, it took me quite a while, and I'm still not quite happy with it yet, so I'm going to keep cleaning it up and I'll post more pictures when I'm sure it's done.

Slug Toy

08-23-2006, 11:34 PM

ive used a very strange method to etch. it hasnt been for any mods, but just to see what happens.

what i do follows a tiny bit of kumo's prep stage... print out a "mirrored" picture. beyond that its a little different.

once i have the picture printed, i cut out any spaces that will end up etched, and then tape it to the plexi. then i spray a thin coat of paint on and let it dry. then i remove the paper and leave it for another day just to make good and sure that everything is dried real well. then i take a razor or another little scraper tool i have (i might take a picture if you guys want me to) and i get a large ruler (like one of those big 5 foot long ones used for woodwork).

here comes the fun part. i take the ruler and line it up at the top of the etching (the very top part). i make a straight scratch following the ruler, making sure only to scratch the painted part. i make it light too because the scraper can dig in real far, and you dont need to take out of lot of material to get a frosted look. i then move the ruler down just a tiny bit, and scratch another line in where there is any paint. i keep scratching and moving down until ive gotten to the very bottom, and theres no more to do.

this method works well for me, and if its done cleanly, it almost makes it look like the image has been crystalized into the plexi.

you can also double this up and do both horizontal and vertical lines, to get that extra bit of definition and accuracy. you can play with the depth too.... as in maybe making the scratches deeper as they get closer to the center of the etching. this can give sort of a 3D look.

Silenced_Coyote

08-24-2006, 03:51 AM

Doesn't your method sound sort of like how a CNC machines work?

Would it be too much to ask for you to post some pics? I would love to visually see it.

Slug Toy

08-24-2006, 08:00 PM

unfortunately it would be a wee bit too much to get some pictures of the actual product. they were test panels and i hacked them to bits while discovering the faults of dremel tools. i have one little bit left thats too small to give a good effect. it probably wouldnt even turn out in a picture.

ill see if i can find another piece of plexi somewhere and give it another shot though. it does look very good if you do it right.

progbuddy

09-07-2006, 04:50 PM

I would personally use a swiveling exacto knife (idk where the heck I got it...). It does give you better curves and lines.

Full Metal Modder

10-02-2006, 09:08 PM

I do my etching like dis... Yes, print out what you want to etch, mirrored and taped to the outside of plexi so the etch is on the inside of case window.

Queen Alien Etch - My Master Piece- More like a tattoo huh - done with a engraver - Wish I took a better pic, its actually perfect - About 3 hours with breaks
http://kreativepc.com/alienetch.jpg

Etch For Mom - gotta luv er - done with engraver and roto zip - about an hour
http://kreativepc.com/mometch.gif

For Chits n giggles - done with engraver, roto zip using different bits - oh 3 er 4
http://kreativepc.com/yosam.gif

My Old PC - done with rotozip large bit - less than an hour
http://kreativepc.com/beastetch.gif

HERES THE TRICK, Unless your a tattoo artist (I Was) this will be hard. Holding a regular engraver is easy if you can follow the lines. Holding a 36000 Rpm Roto zip is like holding a Gyrating Football - Good luck you now have my secrets....But, There is an easier way muah huh huh huh.......Priceless

nzcubey

10-14-2006, 10:33 PM

wow dude those are absolutly awesome, have you tried etching onto metal? what kind of speeds do you recommend using on a rotary tool with etching bits? (on plex)

Luke122

12-11-2006, 04:56 PM

Here's an etching (my first!) I did last night on 1/4" plexi. The bottom half was done with a dremel (no flex shaft.. hand = ow), and the top half (and all the details) were done with an engraver.

http://static.flickr.com/144/319865755_d6c8e82775_d.jpg

Sorry about the crap quality.. it's hard to take a good picture of something transparent. :P

Anyways, this took about 2.5 hrs total, and the image is 5"w x 7" tall.

Aero

12-28-2006, 09:45 PM

sweet merciful crap. Lukifer, thats amazing dude. I might give this a try on some scrap plexi I have laying around because it just looks like fun.

Omega

12-29-2006, 12:09 AM

I tried it with diamond bur rounded tips, good for writing.

I think I might go practice a bit more soon, but with pointy tips on scratch plexi before I go to work on Cavalier's window.

agnat

02-23-2007, 11:58 AM

Damn Lukinfer!!! That's pretty amazing and even more so that it only t00 a couple of hours!!! +rep

Luke122

02-23-2007, 12:47 PM

Thanks again, I've got some more info regarding my etching on my project. Clicky clicky my sig! :D

PiGMaN

03-23-2007, 07:25 PM

Here is an etching tutorial i found online.
Ive seen this guys work on case mods he is very good.
http://www.themodnation.com/absolutenewsmanager/anmviewer.asp?a=35&z=5

ishamael56

04-24-2007, 11:34 PM

I tried etching for the first time, tell me what you think. For these I used the $20 dollar dremel engraver, and it worked very well.

This one took about 3 hours.
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/2978/dscn7828yk3.jpg http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/5468/dscn7826df6.jpg

This one took 4.5 hours.
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/4449/dscn7822yd8.jpg http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/4452/dscn7827ox4.jpg

I think they turned out nice for my first time. Comments?

jdbnsn

04-25-2007, 12:25 AM

Damn fine work!

Eclecticos

04-30-2007, 08:55 PM

That dragon looks like the one on my arm. Well kinda.
Looks Great +Rep

Computer-Geek

04-30-2007, 09:30 PM

wow nice work you used the first tool on here http://www.mytoolstore.com/dremel/misctols.html right ?

ishamael56

05-07-2007, 06:05 PM

yes, that was the tool I used.

Thanks for the compliments everyone!

ishamael56

05-09-2007, 10:55 PM

Here is a new etching i did tonight, to try something different. For this, I sprayed the plexi with some black paint I had laying around, and then etched the paint off. I really like the look this gives.
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/5573/dscn7896rf7.jpg
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/923/dscn7902pm9.jpg

Eclecticos

05-09-2007, 11:31 PM

Wow. . That Looks really good!

How did you come up with that pattern?

You should do a tutorial! If you do them often take some pics..

Commando

05-10-2007, 12:54 AM

ishamael56

Awesome work. You got me thinkin I need to do some etching. Those dragons are top notch.

ishamael56

05-13-2007, 06:08 PM

Eclecticos, I find things to etch just by looking around on the web. Google and deviant art are good places to start. All these etchings were meant to be tattoos. I find the tattoo designs are easy to etch and produce good looking results.

I'll post up more etchings when I do them. thanks for your support!

Eclecticos

06-02-2007, 11:08 PM

Spawn-Inc

06-03-2007, 01:29 AM

I found this etching engraver thing at a yardsale:

http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/1228/p2150410qy7.jpg

Works Preddy good. Tried it out on Aluminum and Plexi.
I was afraid to pick it up at first. . LOL

that reminds me of those travel urine containers...

does it do fine work or just general stuff?

Eclecticos

06-03-2007, 02:07 AM

I Just did this on aluminum.
Excuse me Al. .uh. mini. . um. . :D

http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/2788/p2150416rm0.jpg

Drum Thumper

06-06-2007, 04:02 AM

I found this etching engraver thing at a yardsale:

http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/1228/p2150410qy7.jpg

Works Preddy good. Tried it out on Aluminum and Plexi.
I was afraid to pick it up at first. . LOL

My dad has that same etcher!

I remember screwing around with it a bit when I was a kid, didn't know what it was used for at the time.

thrash

06-14-2007, 03:14 AM

Etch For Mom - gotta luv er - done with engraver and roto zip - about an hour
http://kreativepc.com/mometch.gif

Anyone know where I can get this design?

b4i7

06-22-2007, 12:30 PM

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/b4i7/waterlog/IMAG0001.jpg

heres my etching tool :D

and if that one is messed up...ive always got...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/b4i7/waterlog/IMAG0002.jpg
in backup

sorry im a smartass

NightrainSrt4

06-22-2007, 01:19 PM

Wow, do you really have all that equipment right at your disposal? From work or geez, i hope you dont have those in your house. (That would be awesome, I would just be exponentially more jealous lol).

Nice equipment! My cases wouldnt have that rushed handmade look if only I had more than a cheap rotary tool and a drill lmao. JK

Blebbz

09-17-2007, 05:40 PM

I'm planning on using a Laser cutting machine thing what I have access to in school. You can adjust its power so I'll be setting it to just cut through half of the Plexi/Acrylic that I'm going to be using

xRyokenx

09-17-2007, 05:48 PM

I just use a hammer.

Kidding. I have an idea for a neat paint job that is similar to etching in its own way: bend a wire all crazy and have it laying on your case, just loop it around, etc. and lay it there and spray paint over it and then after it's dried, pull off the wire. As soon as I find some wire and get some paint, I'll post some pics.

NightrainSrt4

09-17-2007, 07:48 PM

Full size "dremel" (black & decker) rotary tool without a flex shaft. Pain in the wrists but worth the effort.

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/2985/dsc01104nk5.jpg

My first etch this summer when I was sick waiting for surgery. Hand drawn from a reference.

I loved doing it, like a million times more than any other artform I have partaken in. I just haven't gotten around to doing it again for fear of arthritis occuring. Lol not really true, just had surgery. Lost a month or so of my life and just havent gotten around to it yet.

My case should have a couple pieces that I can incorporate it into though.

paleyforme

09-20-2007, 05:21 AM

Is the dremel engraver everyone been talking about a cutter to a dremmel or a complete differnt machine all togeather...

Also what cutters do you recommend, ive seen heeps of types

Luke122

09-20-2007, 11:44 AM

The term dremel (at least around here) refers to the multi-speed rotary tool, and not necessarily the brand. :)

The cutting tool I believe is called a Roto-zip, with is different from the rotary tool.

Vital

10-04-2008, 10:31 PM

I actually heard a real good beginner way of etching is finding cut outs in cardboard or plastic and basically using that as a stencil, makes it really really easy.

Kumo

10-05-2008, 02:16 PM

I did it with a piece of paper, but cardboard could be ok. The problem is to find the templates. Making them in hard plastic or even cardboard, it's a new and different problem at all. So you would have to make (or find) the template and then etch the plexy... Too many problems, maybe.

Cardboard it's a nice aproach (printable, easy to cut) but it is a soft material against something like a rotatory tool. Only, it could be useful, for example, if you do the etch with a cutter or such us, by hand.

kazhrei

03-04-2010, 09:22 PM

I realize the last post on this thread was 2 years ago, but it was featured and didn't want to go making a new thread in case you folks get antsy about such things.

I know you can etch metals and glass with various chemicals. Is it possible to do it on acrylic/plexi as well? Or does it not do it very consistently?

blueonblack

03-05-2010, 02:41 AM

Depending on what exactly you're trying to etch, the best thing I've found for plexi, especially for uniformity, is a spray-on frosting from Plasti-Kote:

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh219/daddyforever2/10-2.jpg

I used it for the side panels in Project: Onyx (http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14476) and was very happy with the results.

kazhrei

03-05-2010, 09:35 AM

I'm not sure what I want to etch yet, but I remember seeing this stuff (or similar):

http://www.etchmaster.com/information_site/images/etchcream.jpg

Where you could put a stencil on, smear this stuff on, wait a few minutes and then wash it off and you had a nice etching done.

Konrad

09-05-2010, 11:47 AM

I've never done any etching of this sort. But I have had excellent results at some "fake" etching ... having a sign shop cut up my design in frosted semitransparent vinyl then applying to glass.

slaveofconvention

09-05-2010, 03:57 PM

I've heard good things about sandblasting to get a nice even etching finish. Of course you're severely limited by how precisely you can mask off the areas you don't want marked but having just bought a hose-fed sandblasting gun, I'm going to have a go, intially on stuff I want completely frosted....

TLHarrell

01-19-2012, 01:42 PM

I recently purchased a laser cutter/engraver. If anybody is interested, I could do etching on plexiglass for them. Look for White Light Laser on Facebook or contact at whitelightlaserengraving@gmail.com

The laser opens up some cool combinations of things to do. I can lightly frost an image, or can do a heavier etch through the protective paper and 1/32" into the material. This can then optionally be filled with paint prior to taking off the paper. I have also done etching into the surface of white plexiglass, then laid a piece of frosted clear over that, and the etching shows through and is very subtle.

Currently my size is limited to 8.5x13, but should be building a larger laser soon.

billygoat333

01-19-2012, 03:31 PM

How much do you charge?

TLHarrell

01-19-2012, 08:23 PM

$1.50 a minute for machine time, plus materials and shipping. For people on here, I'd be willing to discount that rate a bit. Average case side window with 75% coverage graphic should be about $30-40 for time. Better than doing it by hand, and the result is dead flat even engraving.

There's some photos of stuff I've done on the Facebook page. If you don't Facebook, I can toss a couple pictures up here as well.

SXRguyinMA

01-22-2012, 08:43 PM

I'll be sending a pm your way within a month or so :)

Neodymium

01-25-2012, 12:03 PM

TLH, can you post some pics? I don't have a FB account, nor am planning to get one. Can you do it on metal and plexi too?

TLHarrell

01-25-2012, 01:02 PM

I can etch onto anodized aluminum, which burns the dye out of the anodizing leaving it white. The laser won't cut metals. Plexiglass I do all the time. It's my favorite material. I can easily cut up to 3/16" plexiglass and can etch it very nicely. Once etched, you can either just peel the paper off or you can fill the etching with paint. I can also peel off the paper and do a light frost etch. I can even do it on both sides for a multi-layer effect.

As my work log on my current system progresses, you will start seeing some multi-layered etching with lighting.

Neodymium

01-26-2012, 05:28 PM

TLHarrell

01-26-2012, 07:25 PM

Here's a few etchings, just so you can see the capability of the laser. Both are frosted acrylic (frost on the back) which are etched on the back side.

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/293385_187614291316285_145363072208074_402627_1515 116957_n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/311807_187613827982998_145363072208074_402625_7963 60081_n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/321190_187253661352348_145363072208074_401672_1417 215030_n.jpg

And a shot of some cutout work in cardstock that I did just for the fun of it. Could do the same in 0.020" styrene...

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/281955_148648788546169_145363072208074_293293_7533 583_n.jpg