Etched enclosures

frequencycentral · April 29, 2011, 02:42:01 PM

^^^^

That's a beautiful etch Jimi! Really really nice graphic work too, love the waveforms and the musical notations.

ACS · April 29, 2011, 06:47:32 PM

Quote from: Jimi W on April 29, 2011, 02:38:10 PM

Crap quality photo but I'm really pleased with the etch itself. Went really well. Used a much more concentrated etchant than usual after reading that insanekane uses a concentrated etchant and I LOVE his etches.

Jimi

Nice etch dude. Is this via Slades method? Any variations in technique? I always seem to get those little 'micro holes' in the toner and cant manage to get anything as clean as what youve got there....

Jimi W · April 29, 2011, 07:23:48 PM

Cheers dude!

Yep, all down to Slade's tutorial! I've read a few others but pretty much follow Slade's.

One thing that does seem to make a difference is etchant strength. My current FeCl is probably 1.5 - 2 times the recommended strength. The etch happens a lot quicker and the toner seems to hold up for the short time even though the etchant is stronger. I also go a bit over the top with nail varnish and paint over a lot of the large toner masked areas. Takes a few more minutes in prep but it guarantees no little spots appearing through the toner. I also use packaging tape and not masking tape for the sides of the enclosures and paint over the join between the tape and the enclosure with nail varnish to stop the etchant seeping under the tape.

To be honest each time I do an etch I still find it as exciting and amazing as the first time and I've probably done about 15 now! I still expect the worst each time and I'm completely blown away when it works. I really do LOVE etching.

Jimi

deadastronaut · April 30, 2011, 04:34:09 AM

yeah thats really cool jimi...nice etch...

i'm the same i love etching , and am also blown away by the results too:...

much better than painting, and waterslides etc...no chipping and all that...great!..

nicofx · May 10, 2011, 12:21:03 PM

Here's my latest..

glops · May 10, 2011, 12:23:44 PM

Quote from: nicofx on May 10, 2011, 12:21:03 PM
Here's my latest..

A beauty...

jimmybjj · May 10, 2011, 12:33:16 PM

Nicofx, that looks really incredible! How do you achieve that effect.

deadastronaut · May 12, 2011, 07:39:21 AM

echo base i did a while back, but never painted the etch...now i have..and clear coat too...
i know...the led bezel

...i'll sort it.

egasimus · May 12, 2011, 08:17:19 AM

The text under the knobs looks a bit unsightly to me. Use Helvetica instead of Arial, p'raps

Otherwise, great build.

Could've been Gagarin-commemorative, though. There would probably be at least one good B&W photo of him that would look good on that stompbox.

Although whenever I see a stompbox with somebody's face on it (it's usually Hendrix, of course), I can't help but wonder - won't some people consider, well, stomping on sb's picture an insult? Outside the Arab world, that is.

deadastronaut · May 12, 2011, 08:36:22 AM

yeah it looks offensive too...

yeah its always hendrix....

i'd stamp on his face and gagarin's......

kupfer_m · May 12, 2011, 10:06:56 AM

All those nice etches!

A few questions :
How do you manage to keep those unetched surfaces that clean?
Is it just lots of nail varnish (or paint) to seal the toner?

How do you get that clean brushed alu look like on the 'tremor in the force' and the 'space base' pedal?
I guess it's sand & sand & sand...

Thanks,
Jim

deadastronaut · May 12, 2011, 10:56:27 AM

hi jim, yep and yep...

i always put nail varnish on any areas not to be etched...just in case of pitting...

as for sanding, yep just one direction...coarse then less coarse...then 1200....and sand sand sand....doesnt take long really...

.Mike · May 15, 2011, 04:04:37 PM

Here's a picture of my etches so far:

deadastronaut · May 15, 2011, 04:07:27 PM

very nice mike.....nice muff too...

tasos · May 15, 2011, 06:08:36 PM

well...this is a green russian muff....and my first etching!

i haven't decided about the knobs yet!any suggestions?

forgot to mention...this box measures 2.2cm high!i had to bend the legs of the 3pdt so it can fit in there!

[yep!copy paste from the pictures thread!i need some help with the knobs here!

]

frequencycentral · May 16, 2011, 03:06:16 PM

Couple of my latest:

deadastronaut · May 21, 2011, 05:24:19 AM

a sneak preview....

bluesman1218 · May 21, 2011, 10:18:56 AM

Quote from: deadastronaut on May 21, 2011, 05:24:19 AM
a sneak preview....

Alright Rob, that's the "Ooooh!" pic. When do we see the "Aaaah!" pic?

deadastronaut · May 22, 2011, 06:05:33 AM

deadastronaut · May 22, 2011, 06:49:28 AM

ok heres the mock up of the 'DUAL CRUCIFIER'..first time i used magazine paper for etching...it works really really well...no more 'special paper' for me...

had to bug rick and galego about how to wire this bugger up..(thanks guys

). its a double dr boogie.. for hi/low gain stuff. in a sideways 1590bb .didnt fancy calling it dual, dual rectifier...

going to try 'no bezel' led's too 2x 3mm for channel swithching, 5mm on/off , and a 3mm in the cross for decoration only...i love a pretty light!...

should be finished this week....

\m/ \m/ ...after a few more orbits around the earth....

@rick, beautuful builds as always...love that gold n silver..

@tasos, stick with the chick!..

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Etched enclosures