AT LAST!

Hi All,
Sorry for background, but you needed to see the holes in the brass sheet.

So, after about an hour in the room temp Ferric Chloride we have the basis of:
Rigging for sail nets, cargo net for warship sides, grating for ship deck - anything.

If you can scale it onto brass (or copper), you can DIY etch it!

The whole point of this simple series is to show that anyone (and believe me, with my restrictions I mean ANYONE), can take an idea, print it, put it onto brass, etch it and end up with a perfect personalised item for pennies.

After the initial setup costs we reckon this one cost about 35p, for an 80mm * 52mm item!
Surely less than commercial sources where you only need a few, or there are no comparable 'shop bought' items available.

Hope it helps someone else in the group.
By the way, the kitchen and my marriage are still intact - NEVER do this in your kitchen sink!

Next I'm going to try DIY Electroforming and see if I can make a gun barrel!

Andy

Develop or bust!

Hi All,

Now we're onto the developing part. Remove the remaining clear acetate sheet from the 'uv'd' board, it should just peel away by hand.

Place the whole board in the solution (remember, about a scoop to 100 ml of water) and wait for a couple of minutes (may need more, hardly ever less). GENTLY, rub the brass sheet with either an old toothbrush, or a soft modelling paint brush. Either way, you just want to rub the surface NOT SCRUB. The undeveloped film will be removed - leaving behind shiny brass to be etched away and film where we want to keep the brass intact.

Then dry the board and place under your UV lamp source again - this time for double the original exposure time. This will harden the resist and let you see any areas that you didn't clean properly with the toothbrush as 'discoloured' areas in the brass that should be etched away. If it's important, then use a scalpel, file etc. to remove the last of the film from those areas.

Next we're going to use a black sharpie to colour the edges of the brass sheet and any areas that either didn't have film on them or where a small part of the film is missing.

Good to go?

Now we're going to etch!

Andy

Hi All,

So onwards!

Picture shows super clean brass sheet, just basking in some washing up liquid water - to keep it wet.
Then, in line with the 'How to' we applied some photo sensitive sheet, then laminated it.

The other picture is showing the brass sheet after placing it into the plastic pocket (a la 'how to')
and exposing it for 65 seconds. If you zoom in you can even make out the fine grid lines from the mask.!

Next we'll go on to developing - get your washing oxy powder ready!

Hi Andy,

No worries mate!

Cheers, Ed

Hi Ed,

Many, many thanks for the thread link. Couldn't make it automatic, so very grateful for your assistance. Will contact stephen (Fireboat) to explain goof and ask him to remove it.
Again cheers
Andy👍

Hi Andy,

We have tried to add a link to this thread in your (How To)!
But, You will have to contact Stephen (Fireboat)!
So that he can delete the (How to) you don't want!

Cheers, Ed

While I'm trying to link to the 'how to' section, here is next step.

So you've cleaned the brass, it's all shiny and ready to go - WRONG!
See how the water has beaded up?
You must degrease, wash, clean or whatever so that water forms a continuous sheet, without beads when you run water over the sheet.

Andy

Hi Martin,

Tried at first and screwed up the original 'How to' - lost all links to PDF files and couldn't put them back!

So created new 'How To' and although there is a button for files and photos, there is nothing to add a link (that I can see).
I copied the model-boats.com/forum/77241 ready to paste it, but I'm blowed if I can work out how to paste it in and now there is a 'how to' with nothing in it apart from text that doesn't link to the pdf and one that does - trust me to screw up the Model Boats website.
If someone can guide me how to get the link in, get rid of the now useless 'How-to' and show me where the link post place is I'll be over the moon!
Many thanks

Andy

Hi Andy,

I think if you open this thread then go to the top of the screen to the search bar it should read model-boats.com, click in that and it should then read
https://model-boats.com/forum/77241

Then click on it and when it is highlighted just copy and paste it in to the "How to"section.

Let me know how you get on.

Martin555.

Hi Martin,

Only problem is, I don't know how to do that!
Any tips greatly appreciated.

Andy

Hi Andy,
It will be worth placing a link to this thread in your "How To" guide.

Martin555.

Here we are again!

First we cut the clear OHP into two pieces and overlay them exactly.

Then, next picture we taped three edges and placed a clamp into it to show the pocket shape.

Next we cut some 3mm brass sheet (see it will etch pretty thick stuff), notice the bent shape from cutting.

Then we flattened the sheet and inside the pocket you can see how filthy the brass is.

Now time for cleaning, we've done half in the pocket so you can see the difference.

Time for major cleaning on both sides.

OK here we go! Time for some netting / mesh.

It was thought some photo's would help explain the process, so here goes with the first in a group of them. If it's in the wrong place, or doesn't help please let me know how to correct things.

First photo to explain the text in the 'how to section'.

It looks like a pair of wired windows. In fact each is a black bordered set of squares. Each square is 2mm and all I did, in MS Publisher, was draw one square and then set it's dimensions to 2mm * 2mm, with a line border of 0.25 point, no fill. Then I copied it 6 times and aligned each square vertically with the first one and horizontally so that each line was an overlay of the one next higher. Then I grouped that block and repeated, growing the blocks in the group until it reached a reasonable size. Then I draw a solid black rectangle - sent it to the back and aligned it around the square mesh. That too was grouped to the 'mesh'. Then I copied the whole thing and pasted another one nearby.

Printed them onto Transparent film in photo quality. The image you see is them after coming out of the printer but before prepping for the etching pocket - that comes next!
Andy

Martin,
Thank you for your support - never know if these things are useful or not. We're already starting on the netting. Will post photos as we go.
Andy

Hi Andy,
I have just looked at your "How To" and i think you have done a very good job.
Well put together.

Martin555.

Hi Martin,

Amy (the boss daughter) and I will design and etch some netting - like around the gun base on HMCS Regina and others- I used tights at the time, but Photo etch would have been so much better. Then can try it on next build. Will get it done and post step by step photos.
Andy

Hi Andy,
I think putting this in the "How To Section is a good idea.
And photos will really help.

Martin555.

It's in the How to articles! I managed it!
Thought I'd show some of those aircraft ribs (I know we don't do aircraft, but there are odd people out there who do!)
Apart from from final filing, they are ready to roll - needed to make 37 in total!
Have fun
Andy

Finally!

I've just finished a run through text of how I do my Photo-etching. I'm going to try and put it into 'how to articles' section. Please let me know if you think it's useful. If so I can get some photo step by steps and add them as well. Good Etching!
Andy

Hi Doug,

Here we have a problem!

The only strange chemical I use is indeed Ferric Chloride. I let my youngest daughter handle it and obviously if there was an element of danger, I as a Dad wouldn't let her near it. She hasn't even managed to stain her hands yet!
If you're still interested I'll put the steps and some pictures into a 'How To' section.
Honest I have no problems with Ferric Chloride and nothing else is even remotely weird or hard to find (many of it in household cupboards)
I do have a fancy laminator (£12.00 from Amazon!) but will detail how a standard iron can work just as well.
Cheers Andy

Very interested. I have some copper clad material crying out for a project. However we also need some simple layout software or App. I have a paid for licence for Easy PC but this needs a fair bit of work for even a simple job. Always happy to learn a shortcut!

Yes please Doc👍
Sounds better than messing about with ferrous chloride😝
Cheers, Doug 😎

Certainly interested in learning photo-etching, bring it on Mr Spock!😊

Cheers, Pete