Well, not a thing of great beauty...but not bad for my first attempt at etching a box.  It's 'textured' aluminium and the lettering was etched with ferric.

NICE ! (next one with -real slow- LFO?)...

That looks nice gez! Did you protect the lettering in any way?

Very cool!

take care,
-Peter

Puretube, funny you should say that!  :wink:

Jason, I did this using photo resist paint, developed my image onto it then etched.  It's a real pain.  Had I used the spray on stuff then perhaps I'd have got consistent results, but it's really hit or miss with aluminium as it's difficult to get the layers (and you need more than one coat) even.

The first attempt was a right-off.  For the second go I outlined the lettering with a permenant marker to prevent 'shadowing'.  This is why I chose a font which looked hand drawn (to compensate for any slips).

I'm sure there's a better way to do this...still looking though!

With the proper paint, with that texture, you could make your box look like it was made out of human flesh!

Gyee! Creepy!

Quote from: Dan NWith the proper paint, with that texture, you could make your box look like it was made out of human flesh!

Hmmm, shades of 'Flesh Guitar' by Geoff Nicholson (a disappointing read, but original nonetheless).

I won't ask what sort of childhood you had Dan...hope I don't have nightmares tonight!  

QuoteJason, I did this using photo resist paint, developed my image onto it then etched. It's a real pain. Had I used the spray on stuff then perhaps I'd have got consistent results, but it's really hit or miss with aluminium as it's difficult to get the layers (and you need more than one coat) even.

gez, The reason I asked if you protected the lettering is because I have some expierence with the aluminum etching process and know that on my box the black deposit, or product of etching, while not easy to rub off with your thumb, will come off with a scrubby pad and water. I think your results look too good not to protect.

Sorry Jason, I got the wrong end of the stick before.  No it's not protected.  

When removing the photo-resist it got a damn good scrubbing with a nylon scouring pad and nothing happened (same with all the samples i did).  To make sure, I just gave the lid (used it to do a preliminary test) a second drubbing and all the lettering's still there, so seems like the staining is permanent (as good as anyway).

PS.  The 'textured' (cyborg's flesh) look is as a result of me stuffing things up the first time.  I had to scour the surface with one of those wire-brush drill attachments.