I am taking a class on etching metal using salt water and batteries. My second class was last nite and I actually got to etch something that worked
Battery Etched Brass
Acid etching requires lots more safety requirements and the space to prepare and do clean up, I was not too keen on this process, but I loved the idea of etching in my own designs in metal!
So when I saw the advertisement for an etching class using Salt Water and Batteries, I was intrigued. The class is being held at Mesa Arts Center Metals Studio.
Basically you use concentrated salt water (which requires a special salt with no additives) and D cell batteries. It is a little more complicated than that and I am still learning of course, but it is FUN!
My first real attempt is shown here. It was a copyright free design I found, applied to PNP paper, which acts as a resist to prevent that part of the metal from eating away, and then I put the brass into the salt water and attached the battery power!
This piece is done but I still have to remove the black ‘mask’ with a solution so only the metal will be left. Then it can be used as a template for a pendant or earring. Cool!
Hope you enjoyed this mini lesson in battery etching! More to follow once I have the last 2 classes under my belt.
