Has anyone tried acid etching stainless steel? i have a client who asked about this for a plaque he would like to put on a "High volume" beer keg in a micro brewery? Seems to me that there would not be enough contrast between the etch and the background for the names to be readable...any suggestions or input would be appreciated!
Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
I've etched stainless using an Passche air eraser and a mask. Air Eraser Posted by Ken Henry (Member # 598) on :
Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but are you intending to acid etch the actual beer keg, or just a plaque that will be attached to the keg ?
The reason I ask is that I believe that beer kegs are pressurized, and chemically etching one would weaken the keg at that point, possibly to the point of it suddenly and unexpectedly popping a leak and spraying beer all over anything & anyone close by.
What I might recommend is a label stock that Gerber markets. It has the finish that closely resembles brushed copper or brushed brass, and has a high-heat adhesive. It's Edge-printable, and could be contour cut to any desired shape.Print the design/information on that, and apply it to the keg. No structural integrity possibility, and should they ever require changes or replacements, they'd be relatively easy to accomplish.
Hope this helps.
Posted by Bruce Eggleston (Member # 3144) on :
ken, i would be etching a plaque that would be applied to the keg itself, so sacrficing the integrity of the keg is not a problem. i just wasn't sure of the effect of the acid on stainless steel and would the effect create enough contrast to be effective?
Posted by Ricky Jackson (Member # 5082) on :
Yes you can; it's called "chem-milling". You'd use a liquid mask then cut it out with a knife.
Posted by William DeBekker (Member # 3848) on :
Chemical Etching Stainless is faily easy but hazardous Since the Chemicals you need are Hydrocloric and Nitric Acid mixed in water. Which needs to mixed right and to get a deeper etch you need to heat it so not the greatest formula to splash on yourself.
If you can go with a carbon based steel, copper or brass you can etch these with ferric cloride which is a little easier on the body. Ferric chloride is available at Radio Shack pre mixed. If you want a deeper etch you can heat the Ferric with a Fish Tank heater so your not exposing it to open flame or too much heat.
Chemical etching is an art just like anything so defenatly practice for awhile before doing for anyone else. And as with any Chemical Do in a WELL VENTILATED AREA.
Posted by Checkers (Member # 63) on :
Hey Bruce, Just design the plaques and order them from a wholesaler... www.neetching.com It'a a lot safer
Havin' fun,
Checkers
Posted by Mike Faig (Member # 6104) on :
Hey Bruce. I once lived on Glenn Ave. I remember riding my bike all around the area in the '70's. My Grampa Z still lives in Edgebrook. You know him?
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)