# Common ways to etch or stain different metals

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-ways-to-etch-or-stain-different-metals/395968>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 15, 2007, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-ways-to-etch-or-stain-different-metals/395968 "2007-03-15T00:19:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Osip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4491bb/32.png) [@Osip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osip)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-ways-to-etch-or-stain-different-metals/395968/1 "2007-03-15T00:19:43Z")

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I am looking to etch and or stain different types of metal. Mostly I work with aluminum, stainless steel and maybe a piece of titanium from time to time.

I am not looking do do any carving, I am looking for chemical options.

Thanks in advance,  
Osip

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**Author:** ![Montgomery0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/0ea827/32.png) [@Montgomery0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montgomery0)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-ways-to-etch-or-stain-different-metals/395968/2 "2007-03-15T01:52:36Z")

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[QUOTE=Osip]  
I am looking to etch and or stain different types of metal. Mostly I work with aluminum, stainless steel and maybe a piece of titanium from time to time.

I am not looking do do any carving, I am looking for chemical options.

Thanks in advance,  
Osip  
[/QUOTE]

> **[Copper Plating and Etching Altoids Tins](http://steampunkworkshop.com/altoid-etch.shtml/)**

I saw this page the other day, it goes on about etching on an Altoids box and in other pages on brass. Gives a lot of detail. I have no experience in metal working, so I have no idea if this helps you or not. I just wanted to put this up because of the steampunk keyboard!

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**Author:** ![Sleel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@Sleel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleel)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-ways-to-etch-or-stain-different-metals/395968/3 "2007-03-15T11:34:24Z")

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The most common, and I would assume one of the best methods of treating aluminum is anodization. This is probably what you’re looking for.

[http://www.focuser.com/atm/anodize/anodize99.html](http://www.focuser.com/atm/anodize/anodize99.html)  
[http://www.docsmachine.com/tech/anod.html](http://www.docsmachine.com/tech/anod.html)

I’m not a materials engineer or even a machinist though, so I can’t give you a run down on the pros and cons of different processes.

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**Author:** ![Osip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4491bb/32.png) [@Osip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osip)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2007, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-ways-to-etch-or-stain-different-metals/395968/4 "2007-03-18T00:50:35Z")

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Thanks **Sleel** ,  
gonna get the printer working and do some reading. I have heard of some sort of chemical reaction with Titanium causing a permenant stain. (something common) maybe soda. _shrug_