FW: [sdiy] FPE prices = HOLY SMOKES

[Jerry Gray-Eskue]

Update -

The panel etch worked rather well. Used enchant with copper in it adds extra
color to the steel, very "artsy fartsy" but not the best for legible text.
Using fresh enchant yields a very "old school" look to the panel as it
brings out some of the grain of the steel and gives it a sort of gunmetal
gray patina.

I was only able to etch a few thousands of an inch before the resist begin
to degrade, so I just top coated the panel with a clear finish. I left the
resist on the panel as the black resist gives a sharp contrast to the panel
color making the text very legible.

If I had been able to etch deeper I would have finished it in black and
sanded back down to the raised text and graphics and then used the clear top
coat or tried electro plating the text and graphics with nickel (which may
require a copper plated base layer) and then add the top coat. I may try
reverse electro plating later to see if I can get the deep etch needed for
that type finish. I also may try taking the panel to more of a mirror finish
before applying the transfer as the resist degradation was only in small
areas of the panel.

- Jerry

-----Original Message-----
From: synth-diy-bounces at dropmix.xs4all.nl
[mailto:synth-diy-bounces at dropmix.xs4all.nl]On Behalf Of Jerry
Gray-Eskue
Sent: Sunday, June 28, 2009 12:47 AM
To: Synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
Subject: RE: [sdiy] FPE prices = HOLY SMOKES


Thanks for the info Mark,

It sounds like the last 3 issues would make it an iffy method at best.
I was setting up to give it a go, but it turns out that my Ink Jet is low on
ink..

BTW **DO NOT** run the T Shirt stuff thru a Laser Printer, it melts and
leaves gunk in the paper path. I Immediately "printed" blank pages after
that little experiment and after a few paper jams was able to mostly clear
out the paper path but am still getting a few small random bits of it out in
subsequent prints.

I am now tiring to use the toner transfer method (as used for PCBs) to place
a resist mask on a panel. The plan is get a good transfer and etch the panel
with PCB enchants. The Panel material I am using is 16 gage mild steel, cold
rolled I believe. My research indicates that copper enchants should work OK
on this material. I was able to get promising but imperfect results using
"HP everyday photo paper" so I have broken out the good stuff, Press and
Peel Blue, and am tiring to get a perfect resist mask on the panel.

I do not have aluminum plate readily available but this technique should
also work for aluminum except for the enchant. It looks like Lye as sold to
clean out drains works well for the enchant, but should only be attempted
after understanding the hazards involved. The Lye is very corrosive and the
reaction can produce large amounts of Hydrogen as well as heat.

- Jerry

-----Original Message-----
From: synth-diy-bounces at dropmix.xs4all.nl
[mailto:synth-diy-bounces at dropmix.xs4all.nl]On Behalf Of Mark Rivera
Sent: Sunday, July 05, 2009 9:03 PM
To: Synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
Subject: Re: [sdiy] FPE prices = HOLY SMOKES


> So has any one tried these transfers? And how well did it work out?

I just tried it... Didn't work out too well.

- surface was acetone-cleaned, non-anodized aluminum
- kept the detail well enough in the places that managed to stick
- had some bubbles in areas that trapped air
- slid around and smeared into a mess if you moved the iron
- peels off fairly easily after cooling
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