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What is Acid-Etching?
Our English word etching is derived from the Dutch word, etzen, to eat, therefore to make an etching, you must employ an eating-away or a biting process with acid.
Acid-Etching was developed during the 15th century in designing jewelry. The artform progressed into full pictures on metal sheets and paper pressed against them, after having ink applied, using a press, to make multiple prints by great artists such as Van Dyck or Rembrandt, to name a few of the 17th and 18th century artisans who did acid-etching.
The process of Acid-Etching is started by using a metal sheet, copper, zinc or in knives, using a stainless steel or carbon steel blade. The metal is coated with a ground (asphaltum or beeswax) to prevent any acid from biting the metal only where the artwork is done. Using an all-steel point to draw through the ground, the artwork is applied. once the artwork is completed, the metal sheet or blade is put into an acid bath or the acid is applied onto the surface. The ground prevents the acid from biting only where the lines have cut through the ground. Once the acid has had a chance to bite the metal, the ground is removed and the surface has the artwork permanently printed on the metal. The depth of the etching is dependant on the temperature of the acid, strength of the acid and the length of time the acid is applied.
Some acids used in this process, for stainless steels, There is a combination of Hydrochloric and nitric acid in a solution with water, to dilute the mixture. If using carbon steel or copper, ferrous chloride (Etchant, for circuit boards) can be used.
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