Acid etching - how too?

[badgeringtim]

hey folkes - another round of mercilessly throwing myself on your wisdom.

I am thinking of trying some acid etching particularly on the side of a knife blade, and had heard it can be done using a marker pen to protect the metal and an acid to eat lightly away at the exterior.
i couldnt find any previous posts (although know there have been some).
So if any kind hearted soul wanted to point me in the right direction it would be mightily appreciated,
Especially the acid source and where i might be able to get some!

thanks

 

[slammer187]

http://www.ukbladesforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=2432

Here ya go

 

[Gailainne]

Do a search on britishblades, there quite a few threads there on how to do it, you don't need anything special, I did it using vinegar and a 9v battery.

 

[Whittler Kev]

Cheers for the link. Wonder if it will work with just the pen? He says it helps. Looks like time for a play then..........Stand well back

 

[launditch1]

http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?41757-Simple-blade-etching

 

[Whittler Kev]

Cheers Launditch1. So you can just use nail varnish to blank off the bit you don't want etched? Got to give it a goooo

 

[badgeringtim]

Grand thanks folkes, how deep an etch can you go with this?
And what materials will it work on?
mild steel - stainles, iron etc

 

[Gailainne]

This is pewter

 

[sasquatch]

Apologies for posting this again as I already did in the 'Argos Axe' thread last year. This was done using the BB link with a lantern battery and salt water...you can go deep as you like but watch the nail varnish doesn't start to lift anywhere. I dab instead of wipe the cotton wool if that makes sense so it doesn't disturb the varnish. Not great pics but you get the idea, they look better in real life and with age as the etch darkens nicely. Easily done, have a go mate!