Hi all,
I have been electro-etching copper for some time now. My question is,
can I electro-etch gold and silver? and if yes, what electrolytic
chemical will I need for them? (I use copper sulfate for the copper).
As always, thank you for your advice.
Elkka Nland,
I do some electro etching of silver.
I put up this web page in response to this question a few months
ago.
http://www.kahiko.com/Electro%20Etch%20Silver.htm
Good Luck,
John Flynn
Hi All:
Thanks John for giving us these valuavle Its a very
interesting method for etching silver. Can you tell us how can we
recover the silver from the Oshpho?
Sincerly
Aurelio
John,
Thank you so much for that resource. It’s difficult to find
on this subject - info on gold etching seems non existant
On a side note: do you use faux leather or real leather for your
etched stone pendants? I’m trying to find a good source for black
cord but I’m still not certain if I should use leather, rubber or
cotton. Durability is my primary concern.
Thanks again.
Elkka
Aurelio,
The silver just precipitates out of the solution as tiny crystals.
It makes some beautiful formations that fall apart into sludge when
you disturb it.
You can filter it out with a coffee filter.
Elkka,
I use cotton sash cord for the stone pendants. Our Hawaiian climate
destroys leather and rubber in short order.
You can get it from Artcraft Braid in Providence RI. 1-800-445-9077
You have to buy it in 1,000 yard spools from them.
In Tucson last year a rep from DH Fell told me that commercial
etchers use potassium iodide to etch gold.
I looked for a bulk source on the internet and got a few thousand
links for KI as a nutritional supplement.
Some day I might just dissolve a bunch of the pills and give it a
try.
John Flynn
In Tucson last year a rep from DH Fell told me that commercial
etchers use potassium iodide to etch gold.
John, here’s a URL for photographer’s potassium iodide, 10 grams,
that’s only 4.95. Don’t know if it would work for you or not, but
it’s cheap enough and probably less problematical than pills.
Kay