DIY etched brass plates!!!!

tramcar trev

tramcar trev

all manner of mechanical apparatus...
Have a look at this kit. The suppliers say the instructions are in plain English...... At this price I'm going to buy one and give it a run as I have several brass plates I would like to etch, street signs, tramstops etc etc and the price is cheaper that buying them. I will need to source some clear film for either inkjet or laser printer.....

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/25095932...X:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_6902wt_1330
 
Yes of course; but if I were you I'd get in before the Euro collapses and the price skyrockets...:rolf::rolf::rolf:
 
When I started in 16mm it was the norm rather than the exceotion for people to make their own plates using circuit board etching kits (available from Tandy then but now Maplin) and Lettraset or similar transfer lettering.
 
tramcar trev said:
Yes of course; but if I were you I'd get in before the Euro collapses and the price skyrockets...:rolf::rolf::rolf:
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What is this Euro to which you refer? We use the British Pound sir!
 
Bredebahn said:
tramcar trev said:
Yes of course; but if I were you I'd get in before the Euro collapses and the price skyrockets...:rolf::rolf::rolf:
Click to expand...

What is this Euro to which you refer? We use the British Pound sir!
Click to expand...
Hmmm GBP??? yes I noticed that's the currency I have to pay with....
Perhaps a rousing chorus of Rule Brittania is in order???

An administrative problem has surfaced , I have already paid, But get messages that its the Lunar new year and they wont post to Australia..... Could someone in the UK try to buy it and see if they get a similar message before they can pay???

Did someone say a lab rat was needed.... Fortunatley if this all goes to the dragons or whatever 2012 is I can get back my dosh from paypal....
 
funandtrains said:
...the norm rather than the exception for people to make their own plates....
....Lettraset or similar transfer lettering.
Click to expand...
I made a few plates this way, using brass strip and ferric chloride.
OK with care, and practise, but the main problem was keeping the lettering in a straight line.

Uneven plates now replaced by Narrow Planet.:thumbup:
 
Ok so I have to use a liquid positive resist rather than the film as the film for some reason cannot be sent by post and if I was in the UK I could get the resist in an aerosol alas that cant be posted to AU..
so this from Japan seems to be the way to go.....
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/30064664...X:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_2409wt_1202

I don't envisage and problems with lettering not straight etc as I'll make my own artwork on the computer by printing on clear OHP film and I can design whatever my warped mind desires. I also think I'll be able to use this technique to etch from brass sheet small components for my scratch built trams when I get that far down the track.

I find that this is where my skills are and I don't like having to task others to do my work for me plus its about capability in my workshop too, with this setup I'd be able to etch small springs and anything from brass berrilium copper etc....
And its not that expensive I already have an etch tank, to wit a glass jar and a $4 fish tank aerator.... the ferric chloride lasts for years and the developer and such are not expensive....
Wait, next you'll see etched brass life guards on the ends of my trams....
 
I wouldn't hold my breath just yet..... Seems HM Customs is not happy with this, but yet they allowed ferric chloride thru the post..... I'll ask them to send it as something else "photographic supplies" or better yet nitroglycerine.....
 
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