Safer Etching Solutions

The following supplies will be used for course demonstrations and objectives. A suggested item and/or vendor has been provided below for reference. Click the vendor name to be redirected to a page where you can view the item. The quantities needed for each item are listed first. If ordering, please be aware that some items may come in larger quantities than needed for this class. We recommend not opening an item's packaging until the day of the workshop. Student participation during or in-between class sessions is not required - observers are welcome.

Metal/raw materials:

• 6"x6" x copper sheet - 20g (Parawire)

• 6"x6" x yellow brass sheet - 20g (Parawire)

• 3"x3" x sterling silver sheet - 20g (Rio Grande)

• 1 x copper wire - 16g (Parawire)

• 4.75ml x ferric chloride (Amazon)

• 500g x ferric nitrate (Science Company)

• 500g x copper nitrate (Science Company)

Etching materials: 

• 1 x craft vinyl roll - 6ft wide or over (Amazon)

• 1 x electrical tape (Amazon)

• 1 x paint pens variety pack (Amazon)

• 1 x layout fluid (Amazon)

• 1 x nail polish (Target)

• 1 x sponge (Home Depot)

• 1 x glass container (Target)

• 1 x soft toothbrush (Target)

• 2 x foam brush - 2" (Michaels) 

• 1 x measuring cup - 500ml (Amazon)

• 1 x beaker - 200ml (Amazon)

• 1 x digital scale - grams (Amazon)

• 1 x plastic container with cover (Target)

• 1 x root destroyer (Home Depot)

• 1 x power supply for electo etching - various options will be discussed (one example is Amazon)

Hand tools:

• 1 x round nose pliers (Rio Grande)

• 1 x chain nose pliers (Rio Grande)

• 1 x flat nose pliers (Rio Grande)

• 1 x snips / flush cutters (Rio Grande)

• 1 x jewelers saw (Rio Grande)

• 1 x pack saw blades - 2/0 (Rio Grande)

• 1 x burlife / bee's wax (Rio Grande)

• 1 x bench pin (Rio Grande)

• 1 x rotary tool - flex shaft, micro motor, etc. (Rio Grande)

• 1 x center punch (Rio Grande) 

• 1 x scribe (Rio Grande)

• 1 x sanding sticks (Rio Grande)

• 1 x cross lock tweezers (Rio Grande)

• 1 x Steel Burnisher (Rio Grande)

Torch setup:

• 1 x fireproof area - steel sheet, tiles, etc. (Amazon or Home Depot)

• 1 x Solderite™ pad / pan with pumice (Rio Grande or Rio Grande)

• 1 x compressed charcoal block - hard (Rio Grande)

• 1 x torch - Smith mini, Silversmith, or butane (Rio Grande or Rio Grande)

• 1 x #0 or #1 torch tip - if getting Silversmith (Rio Grande)

• 1 x striker or lighter - Silversmith system has one (Rio Grande)

• 1 x soldering tweezers (Rio Grande)

• 1 x soldering pick (Rio Grande)

• 1 x 3rd arm (Rio Grande)

• 1 x cross lock tweezers (Rio Grande)

• 1 x paste flux (Rio Grande)

• 1 x copper tongs - for pickle (Rio Grande)

• 1 x 6” silver solder - medium (Rio Grande)

• 1 x pickle - sodium bisulfate or citric acid (Rio Grande or Amazon)

• 1 x crock pot or lidded glass container (Rio Grande or Amazon)

• 1 x small brush - for flux

Other/miscellaneous materials:

• hard work surface

• fan and open window or ventilation system

• safety glasses

• pencil, Sharpie, notebook

• rags/towels

• Denatured Alcohol

• Acetone
• Scissors
• Sharpie (black)
• Paper Towels
• Q-tips
• Ruler
• Dish Detergent or Metal Cleaning Products (Penny-Brite, Pumice etc.)
• Safety Glasses
• N95 Respirator
• Disposable Gloves
• Well Ventilated Area