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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!
-------------------- Bruce Eggleston Eggleston Signs 315 So. Main St. New Carlisle, Oh. 45344 Posts: 22 | From: New Carlisle, Oh. | Registered: Jul 2002
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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.
-------------------- Ken Henry Henry & Henry Signs London, Ontario Canada (519) 439-1881 e-mail: kjmlhenry@rogers.com
Why do I get all those on-line offers to sell me Viagara, when the only thing hardening is my arteries ? Posts: 2684 | From: London,Ontario, Canada | Registered: Feb 1999
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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?
-------------------- Bruce Eggleston Eggleston Signs 315 So. Main St. New Carlisle, Oh. 45344 Posts: 22 | From: New Carlisle, Oh. | Registered: Jul 2002
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Yes you can; it's called "chem-milling". You'd use a liquid mask then cut it out with a knife.
-------------------- Ricky Jackson Signs Now 614 Russell Parkway Warner Robins, GA (478) 923-7722 signpimp50@hotmail.com
"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Sir Issac Newton Posts: 3528 | From: Warner Robins, GA | Registered: Oct 2004
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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.
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Hey Bruce, Just design the plaques and order them from a wholesaler... www.neetching.com It'a a lot safer
Havin' fun,
Checkers
-------------------- a.k.a. Brian Born www.CheckersCustom.com Harrisburg, Pa Work Smart, Play Hard Posts: 3775 | From: Harrisburg, Pa. U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
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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?
-------------------- Mike gatlinburg Sign Crafters Posts: 1051 | From: Gatlinburg, TN | Registered: Oct 2005
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