How To Electro-Etch with Salt Water and Aluminium

Experimenting with the alternative etching process that is chemical free!

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GEAR USED:
Lens: 12-60 Kit Lens

[wesleymallin]

Nice video. I've fiddled with electro etching a bit and you can reduce the undercut by using a deeper tank and orienting the face of the work towards the anode. It's a directional process so the more parallel the work (cathode) is with the sacrificial plate (anode) the less undercutting you get. I use vinyl and/or paint as a resist and generally use 12v for everything because I'm a lazy cheepskate and I've never had a problem with crisp edges.

NOTE: Most of the stuff I've done has been with medium carbon and mild steel but this video has inspired me to go and have another crack at Aluminium so thanks for that.

[XavierAncarno]

Literally my favorite channel... Rz67 and DIY

Cheers from France 🇫🇷 Mate

[ImNotAGekko]

Nice ! Maybe a safety advice on the electrolyte, try to use baking soda instead of salt. I ended generating chlorine in my room by messing up with the connection using salt. Cheers !

[raymason]

Thanks for the video. I’m trying this out right now but thought I would investigate what the bubbling consisted of. Chlorine gas at the anode and hydrogen gas at the cathode! I’ve now move it outside away from the garage Calor gas heater!

[hmjeon]

Is there any way to etch anodized al surface?

[tehmulkapadia]

what is the material used to create the mask for image/logo in blue ?

[coulterjb]

Would the undercutting be reduced if the amperage was dropped by a significant amount? I'm sure it would slow the process down.
I do know that electroplating happens more easily along edges than in recessed area so slowing it down might not help. But thought i would ask.

[还猪哥哥]

Do you think copper sulphate will work? Also why was there bubbling at the anode

[victorunbea]

You don't need stainless steel. Simple aluminium foil will be enough or any conductive element. In layman's terms, saltwater etching (electro-etching) is applying a charge difference in order to force atoms to rip from the surface of the anode (+ positive charged metal) to move to cathode (- negative charged metal)

[jordyv.]

I'm using this to etch my name into the handle of my Victorinox pocket knife (alox)