{"id":224,"date":"2023-02-10T13:34:13","date_gmt":"2023-02-10T13:34:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.furnells.com\/blog\/?p=224"},"modified":"2023-02-10T13:34:14","modified_gmt":"2023-02-10T13:34:14","slug":"how-to-etch-brass-or-copper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.furnells.com\/blog\/how-to-etch-brass-or-copper\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Etch Brass or Copper"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Etching lettering or decorative patterns and pictures on brass or copper is a great way to personalise items, make the ordinary extraordinary or label anything from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.furnells.com\/plaques-nameplates.php\">etching trophies, plaques and nameplates<\/a> to bespoke gifts.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Metal etching is a relatively simple process if you have the right equipment, an artistic eye and a bit of patience and brass and copper are probably the easiest metals to etch.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This straightforward guide to etching brass and copper will take you through the process step by step&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Equipment Do You Need to Etch Brass?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Brass or copper sheet or item to be etched.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An idea of what it is going to say or look like, you might want to print your text or design on a computer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Photo paper (if printing your design)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An iron (if printing your design).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Safety glasses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gloves.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A kitchen scourer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Acetone\/nail polish remover.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lint-free cloth\/kitchen paper<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A disposable plastic tray or tub that will easily fit your whole item or sheet (you will not be able to reuse this pot for food).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chemical etching solution (Ferric Chloride).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Permanent marker\/s.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tape.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A mirror.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fine sandpaper.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Funnel (to put the etching solution back in its bottle.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Prepare Metal to be Etched<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Use a kitchen scourer to thoroughly clean the brass or copper you are going to etch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then using a lint-free cloth or sheets of kitchen paper carefully dry it and then use acetone to wipe it down.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Prepare Your Lettering or Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You will be using ink (printer ink or permanent marker ink), or tape as a resist. That is the area that will NOT be removed by the etching solution. So, therefore, your design will be in relief.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can use a computer and an inkjet printer loaded with photo paper to easily get your design or text in place.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Find a picture or text.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2018Flip\u2019 it so it is reversed.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Print it onto photo paper.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Carefully place the photo paper onto your brass or copper sheet or item.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use an iron to transfer the print to the metal.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Remove any paper residue by soaking it in warm water.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Alternatively, you could draw directly onto your item or metal plate if you have sufficient faith in your artistic skills.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Use tape as a resist to cover any other parts of the brass or copper item that are not to be etched. Such as the back and sides.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Important Note<\/strong>: Make sure you double check every aspect of your design or text will be the right way round by using a mirror, it\u2019s easier to rectify mistakes at this stage!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Etching Process<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use your PPE: gloves and safety glasses. You might also want to protect surfaces with newspaper and work outside or ensure adequate ventilation.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Place your brass or copper item into your plastic tray or tub. You can tape it to the sides so that it is suspended to avoid an uneven etch.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Put your etching solution in the tray. Don\u2019t use it sparingly as you can reuse the solution again and again.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Remove any air bubbles in the solution by gently agitating it.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Leave for the recommended time in the instructions on your etching solution, this is usually around 45 minutes to an hour.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Using gloves, remove the item from the etching solution and scrub and clean with the kitchen scourer.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.furnells.com\/blog\/how-to-clean-engraved-metal-nameplates-plaques\/\">Polish the brass\/copper<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dispose of any Waste Safely<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your etching solution can, as we have said, be reused again and again.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When it does come to disposing of it DO NOT put it directly down the drain. It can be extremely hazardous to wildlife and corrosive to pipework.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can follow the manufacturer&#8217;s recommendations for safe disposal, sometimes it can be diluted with washing-up liquid or soda or sometimes it will need to be taken to your nearest household recycling centre, you might need to contact your local council and follow their guidelines.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Alternatives to Etching Yourself<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you would like to create etched brass or copper sheets or items but do not want the hassle or risk involved with doing it yourself then <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.google.com\/\">get in touch<\/a> with us as Furnells and we can etch your items for you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Etching lettering or decorative patterns and pictures on brass or copper is a great way to personalise items, make the ordinary extraordinary or label anything from etching trophies, plaques and nameplates to bespoke gifts.&nbsp; Metal etching is a relatively simple process if you have the right equipment, an artistic eye and a bit of patience&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.furnells.com\/blog\/how-to-etch-brass-or-copper\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">How to Etch Brass or Copper<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":225,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[20],"class_list":["post-224","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-engraving","tag-metal","entry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How To Etch Brass Or Copper | Furnells<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A straightforward step-by-step guide to etching lettering or designs onto brass and copper.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.furnells.com\/blog\/how-to-etch-brass-or-copper\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How To Etch Brass Or Copper | Furnells\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A straightforward step-by-step guide to etching lettering or designs onto brass and copper.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.furnells.com\/blog\/how-to-etch-brass-or-copper\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Furnells\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/furnells.london\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-02-10T13:34:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-02-10T13:34:14+00:00\" \/>\n<meta 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