# cheap way to etch designs onto metal? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 3, 2003, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-way-to-etch-designs-onto-metal/179463 "2003-06-03T21:58:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Headcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6bbea6/32.png) [@Headcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Headcoat)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-way-to-etch-designs-onto-metal/179463/1 "2003-06-03T21:58:42Z")
Are there any cheap tools I can buy to etch/engrave/burn a design onto metal? The custom engraving shops are too expensive. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-way-to-etch-designs-onto-metal/179463/2 "2003-06-03T22:01:03Z")
If you can do a decent job by hand, Dremel makes some good tools, and there are also cheaper Dremel clones that will do the job too. ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-way-to-etch-designs-onto-metal/179463/3 "2003-06-03T22:47:06Z")
As far as I can remember, you could cover whatever you’re working with in wax, scratch out your design and use sulfuric acid to eat away where the wax isn’t… someone correct me if it’s not sulfuric… ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-way-to-etch-designs-onto-metal/179463/4 "2003-06-03T22:49:45Z")
What acid to use depends on the metal, sometimes. Sulphuric should etch most common metals, though, and you can get it in any auto parts shop. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-way-to-etch-designs-onto-metal/179463/5 "2003-06-03T22:59:45Z")
Hydrochloric acid works, and is less likely to eat holes in your clothing than sulfuric acid. You might also consider looking into [photo-resist](http://www.accesswave.ca/~ve1adh/pcb.html) etching as used to make printed circuit boards. The required materials are available at Radio Shack. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-way-to-etch-designs-onto-metal/179463/6 "2003-06-03T23:05:05Z")
I worked at Radio Shack. They don’t have photoresist materials available, but they _do_ have ferric chloride solution which etches most metals nicely. For a resist, you can use paint or even a Sharpie™ marker. Or self-adhesive plastic laminate, and stencil-cut with an exacto knife. ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-way-to-etch-designs-onto-metal/179463/7 "2003-06-03T23:26:00Z")
You can also beadblast the metal using a stencil to cover areas you want left shiny. I’m not sure if this method is suitable for what you want to engrave, but the end results look really good. I have seen quite a few custom cars with flames beadblasted into the air cleaners, valve covers, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Headcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6bbea6/32.png) [@Headcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Headcoat)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-way-to-etch-designs-onto-metal/179463/8 "2003-06-03T23:36:44Z")
Great advice guys. Thanks. Any important safety precautions I should consider before embarking on the acid method (never worked with acid before)? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-way-to-etch-designs-onto-metal/179463/9 "2003-06-03T23:43:01Z")
Ferric chloride is a good deal safer to use than acids, although it’s a bit slow. It does stain, however, so be careful to put down plenty of newspaper or something around your work area, and wear rubber or plastic gloves. If you go the acid route, definitely wear gloves, and apron and eye protection. ---
**Author:** ![Urban\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-way-to-etch-designs-onto-metal/179463/10 "2003-06-04T06:40:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > I worked at Radio Shack. They don’t have photoresist materials available, but they _do_ have ferric chloride solution which etches most metals nicely. That’s mainly for etching circuit boards by eating away the copper foil on top. Not sure how well it works on other metals. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-way-to-etch-designs-onto-metal/179463/11 "2003-06-04T13:29:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Urban Ranger \* > \*\*That’s mainly for etching circuit boards by eating away the copper foil on top. Not sure how well it works on other metals. \*\* I’ve tried it on steel, brass, and aluminum, and it seems to work on all of them to some degree or other. I can’t say I’ve done a scientifically rigorous study of etching times, however. And yes, I know what it’s for. I’ve made boards with it. ---
**Author:** ![Sock\_Munkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Sock\_Munkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sock_Munkey)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-way-to-etch-designs-onto-metal/179463/12 "2003-06-05T07:26:40Z")
AFAIK some craft and hobby shops sell etching pens. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-way-to-etch-designs-onto-metal/179463/13 "2003-06-05T07:55:51Z")
For a really low-tech solution, you could apply a wax resist, scrape away the bits you want etched, then deliberately rust the steel (assuming it isn’t stainless) with salt water, afterwards use a rust remover to leave a clean, but etched/pitted surface.