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This is a great technique to etch your children's artwork directly onto metal! No transferring, or tracing their artwork! It's a really fun technique using easy to find, and cheap, supplies.
Supplies: Pencil, copper wire, 6V Battery, Crayon, Metal Tin, Medium Plastic or Glass Container, wires with alligator clips attached on both ends, Acetone (Nail Polish Remover), sandpaper (if using an altoid tin or other tin with design and/or color on it), salt, and water.
Your supplies can all be bought at your local store like at Walmart. That 6V battery, I found in the camping department (they use them for lanterns). They are about $1. The wire and alligator clips can be bought at Radio Shack. They are about $3.
You could use Altoid tins, however, I bought a huge supply of plain tins, as I’m using them for many things. If you have Altoid tins you will need to sand off the design on the top (or anywhere that you want to end up etched), using sandpaper and lots of elbow grease!
If you buy tins from a hobby store that are like mine, you will still need to remove a protective layer they all have on them. You can remove this by using acetone (or nail polish remover). Make sure you remove all of this protective layer because the etching will not happen where any of that protective layer is left.
Supplies: Pencil, copper wire, 6V Battery, Crayon, Metal Tin, Medium Plastic or Glass Container, wires with alligator clips attached on both ends, Acetone (Nail Polish Remover), sandpaper (if using an altoid tin or other tin with design and/or color on it), salt, and water.
Your supplies can all be bought at your local store like at Walmart. That 6V battery, I found in the camping department (they use them for lanterns). They are about $1. The wire and alligator clips can be bought at Radio Shack. They are about $3.
You could use Altoid tins, however, I bought a huge supply of plain tins, as I’m using them for many things. If you have Altoid tins you will need to sand off the design on the top (or anywhere that you want to end up etched), using sandpaper and lots of elbow grease!
If you buy tins from a hobby store that are like mine, you will still need to remove a protective layer they all have on them. You can remove this by using acetone (or nail polish remover). Make sure you remove all of this protective layer because the etching will not happen where any of that protective layer is left.
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Signing UpStep 1Separate Top From Bottom
Separating the top from the bottom makes them easier to work with and they come apart very easily, just be careful not to break the hinge.
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To test this check if a whole load of salt came out of solution after your boiled bath cooled to room temperature. It shouldn't have.
Sorry one of the only things I remember from "O" level chemistry- nice Ible BTW
Saving Time
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What gauge/size copper wire did you use?
Rebecca
RootsAndWingsCo
Came out well, I must say.
I did not have that thought. ;)
I do want to try this though!
Rebecca@RootsAndWingsCo
However, I love the idea that these supplies I had on hand! Because I have kids, I have crayons on hand! ;)
Thanks for the GREAT idea!
Rebecca@RootsAndWingsCo