Serial Number Etching

[Historian]

On WeaponsGuild Forum I ran across a
clever way to etch pieces. Mr. Prsxr most generously
shared his technique. The ensuing input from others
present an instructive read.

<< http://www.weaponsguild.com/forum/index ... pic=1258.0 >>

" ... Press’n’peel is neat stuff used to make prototype printed circuit boards. It is a letter sized sheet of clear plastic with a blue ‘photoresist’ substance on one side. ..."

" ... the Press n Peel is available from Techniks.com. $33 for 20 sheets. "

[L1A1Rocker]

Oops. For some reason I'm not allowed to see what you linked to.

[McLarenross]

Hahaha! I got the same error, which means you need to be a member to view the post. Oddly enough as some point in the past I had apparently gotten an account there and my laptop saved the login and password so I was able to see the post.

[CMV]

Looks like you have to register & make X # of posts to see content there? How about Cliff's Notes for the rest us if one of you guys knows the secret handshake?

[Historian]

Zorch! My bad.

Thought most would be members of this Phantom's
Skull Cave of firearms jewels in construction information.

"You too can build a copy of a H&H with 24.5" 500/450NE,
semi-automatic, collapsable stock,
out of scrap parts from Dodge Dart, hardware store, tin roofs, etc. ..."

Really creative and brilliant natural craftsmen there who share
complementary skills and knowledge to our great site for those
who want to glean novel techniques.

Joining allows one to see all posts and pictures. A Macgyver
well spring.


A Book Review of highlights.
Key Idea:

. 12v power supply
. Salt water as an electrolyte
. Press’n’peel instead of a stencil.

Highlights from Mr. Prsxr's brilliant " ... professional results for virtually nothing."

Material: press’n’peel used printed circuit boards: a clear plastic with a blue ‘photoresist’ substance on one side.

Use word processor to layout lines you want etched.
Make a reverse image ( as if you were looking from other side of slide )

Use the PnP in the laser printer and print.

" The toner acts as an adhesive to bind the resist to the metal."

.Cut out the rectangle with printing.

. Preheat the receiver to about 300°F;
place PnP on metal; and very carefully work over it with a 300°F iron.

. Once bonded like a T-shirt press-on peel off the backing plastic sheet;

. Mask off the surrounding metal with tape.

. Attach power supply to your part to be marked (+) and to a stainless electrode (-); and apply the electrolyte between the two.
He uses a soft sponge soaked in electrolyte made up of 1 Tbs table salt per pint).
He used a 3.6v power supply rated at 1.2A. [ I tried a cheap regulated car battery charger.]

After around 5 minutes he unwrapped the tape and washed the surface.

The pictures he posted were impressive.

Please consider signing on to get the full report with pictures. The Guild site
has been and continues to be for me a source of never ending inspiration, awe,
and plain adulatory envy.

[Hard_ware]

Basics

Mask off area with a plastic tape or sticker material or wax

cut out and expose metal surface you want to etch

Old computer power supply works great, use yellow wire(connect to metal) and black wire (to cotton swab)

take cotton swab and wrap black wire around cotton swab stick side of cotton ball about 1/3 the way from the end of the cotton ball

put a small cap full of water add some salt to it, some salt should be on bottom not fully dissolved. now dip cotton swab in water/salt mixture

now rub the exposed metal with the cotton swab, it will start bubbling and turn black as it etches the metal away.

Change swabs as they get burnt and black, etch to depth desired.

The better the plastic masking material the finer the etchings you can do.

Here is a over view of the process, using a diy power supply, old computer power supply works great as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTRaAdvnnj8

[Historian]

Hard_ware, thank you for directing to further informative elaboration.
Side YouTubes were interesting additional information.

Best.

[Hard_ware]

welcome, I have done this with steel and stainless for some pipes I welded together to make a handle to turn the irrigation system. I put my name on the stainless steel tubes so if the city workers take them they can be identified . They were given to the local little league baseball for them to use. Worked very well and will produce deep penetration.