How to Make Your Own Jewelry Etching System

Jewelry etching systems create intricate designs on copper, brass or bronze.

Jewelry etching is the process of transferring an image onto a piece of metal, such as copper or silver. The artist then uses an acid solution that eats away at the unprotected parts of the design, leaving it permanently etched into the surface of the piece. Jewelry etching dates back to the Middle Ages, when metal workers used the process to decorate various things, including armor, dinnerware and guns. Put together a simple etching system to make etched jewelry pieces at home.

Things You'll Need

• Ferric chloride or other type of acid
• Deep container
• Chemical resistant latex gloves
• Protective eyewear
• Apron
• Clear tape
• Red or black enamel paint pens
• Metal
• Sandpaper
• Steel wool
• Polishing cloth

Instructions

1. Find a deep container made of rubber large enough to submerge the piece of copper or other metal that you're etching. Ensure that the container is big enough for the piece to be completely covered in acid during the etching process.

2. Purchase ferric chloride acid from your local hobby shop or craft store. Buy enough acid to fill the plastic container so that the metal piece or pieces can be completely submerged.

3. Keep safety-wear in your kit to use during the etching process. Chemical resistant latex gloves will protect your hands during the submerging of the piece and while rinsing after the etching process. Always wear protective goggles or glasses when working with a corrosive such as acid, and wear a heavy-duty shop apron to protect your clothing.

4. Keep clear tape in your jewelry etching kit to protect the back of the piece that you're etching. Clear tape will keep the acid from eating all the way through the design.

5. Add red or black enamel paint pens to your etching system kit. These pens will be what you use to create your design. The enamel paint protects the metal from the acid during the etching process, allowing only the design under the paint to remain.

6. Purchase sandpaper and steel wool for your etching system. The sandpaper is used to rough up the surface of the metal before adding the design so that the paint from the pen will adhere well to the surface. Use the steel wool after the etching process to clean up any rough edges on the design.

7. Keep a polishing cloth in your jewelry etching system kit to polish the metal you use after rinsing it thoroughly and cleaning it up with the steel wool.

Tips & Warnings

• Add designs to your kit that are printed out on computer paper. Invert the paper design onto the metal and heat with an iron until the ink from the paper transfers to the metal. The ink will protect the metal much like the enamel paint from the pen during the etching process.

References

• Sherri Haab: Etching on Copper
• Incredible Art Department: Etching Copper or Brass
• Goss Design Studio: Etching of Copper, Brass and Bronz