Yet More Experiments in Electrolytic Etching

I have continued to experiment with electrolytic etching, and have found that I can use the same salt bath for up to two pieces with no degradation in etching. The third and fourth in the same batch begin to have issues, and I have to remove the – plate and scrub it with a brass brush after the second etching, as it becomes caked with the extra copper.

I have still been using the Sharpie as my resist, and the next set of experiments will be with different resist materials. I am still having trouble with the etch undercutting the Sharpie marks, and with the Sharpie beginning to wipe off with time in the etching bath.

I have also continued to experiment with textures and wtih hand coloring using Prisma Color pencils.

Photos of the latest pieces are below. The tree earrings and the three tree pendant are custom orders from customers who saw my earlier pieces.

The snowmen were etched and then cut out of the sheet, with a bail added on the back. I tumbled finished them, and am very pleased with the way that finish worked. I used stainless steel shot and Simple Green in the tumbler.

I apologize for my photos – they are not as good as I would like them to be. I’m having trouble getting the etching to show clearly.