creativewriting
Member
After watching Brads videos I have been wanting to try my hand at etching. After numerous messages, that Brad was very gracious to answer, it was time to give it a go. This pen is turned from .62"d aluminum rod. It is a bit "beefier" (.57"d) as I wanted to leave a bit of meat. I wasn't sure what to expect from the etching process or my solution so it was better to be safe and make a wider pen. The nib section could be a bit fatter to reduce the shoulder, but that is a quick fix.
Overall I was pleased with the outcome. There is a LOT of room for improvement (Sorry Brad...that means more emails
). My first issue is the time it takes to get any depth in the etch. The reaction is not as violent as in the video and it's taking a bit longer to get a deep cut. For me that translates to more time for something to go wrong. The sections for this pen were in the solution for roughly 3-5 minutes each. Secondly I need to be more careful with the vinyl. I wrapped the cap with Cricut vinyl (don't tell my wife) and then used an exacto knife to free hand the flame pattern. For the most part it stayed in place, but the heat from the process does start to effect the vinyl towards the end.
The etch on this pen feels good on the fingers, but is not deep enough (I think) to fill with resin. I am not sure how deep I need to go, but I don't want it to be to thin and crack later on. That will be the next phase of the experiment I guess.
Thanks for looking. Any and all critiques, comments, and advise are welcome!
Overall I was pleased with the outcome. There is a LOT of room for improvement (Sorry Brad...that means more emails
). My first issue is the time it takes to get any depth in the etch. The reaction is not as violent as in the video and it's taking a bit longer to get a deep cut. For me that translates to more time for something to go wrong. The sections for this pen were in the solution for roughly 3-5 minutes each. Secondly I need to be more careful with the vinyl. I wrapped the cap with Cricut vinyl (don't tell my wife) and then used an exacto knife to free hand the flame pattern. For the most part it stayed in place, but the heat from the process does start to effect the vinyl towards the end.The etch on this pen feels good on the fingers, but is not deep enough (I think) to fill with resin. I am not sure how deep I need to go, but I don't want it to be to thin and crack later on. That will be the next phase of the experiment I guess.
Thanks for looking. Any and all critiques, comments, and advise are welcome!
