How to Set A Permanent Etch A Sketch (like Pros)

As an Etch A Sketchist myself, I feel that the worst thing any EAS artist can do for themselves is to get too attached to one of their "Sketch Works". I've seen this happen before and artists have gone insane trying to protect their artwork. Just take a picture of it! Remember, an Etch A Sketch is a toy and we all learned from Toy Story that toys are meant to be played with.

However, I also understand that some of you might want to preserve your drawing out of sentimental reasons. So, here's my method on how to preserve your Etch A Sketch artwork permanently so that it can never be erased again. In here I will show you is how to, safely, open up your EAS and remove the powder and deactivate the knobs, so that your artwork will never be damaged.

Step 1 What You Will Need

1) Dremel Tool (with circular saw attachment)
2) Screwdriver set
3) Wedge/ Thick Flathead Screwdriver
4) Pinpoint Tweezers
5) Wire Cutters
6) Epoxy (or any other kind of super adhesive)
7) and of course an Etch A Sketch

Comments

[ArtieEtch]

Shift! - I want to thank you sincerely for posting this Instructable. I began working with Etch a Sketch as an art medium in Dec 2010, and your instructions have allowed me to preserve my works and basically launch a new career. I've been crediting your Instructable in all of my exhibits and would love to be able to give you due credit by name if you're comfortable giving me your name (though I understand if you'd rather not...). You could e-mail it to me if you prefer: [e-mail]. Here are a few examples of my work; my website is https://andreatildenetchasketch.wordpress.com/

[SHIFT!]

These are truly amazing ArtieEtch and your comment made me tear up a bit. Please check your inbox for a full response.

[Mr. Potato Head]

Interesting project, but reading through the steps it kind of looks like if I did it my Etch-a-Sketch wouldn't work any more. Am I missing something???

[SHIFT!]

You are correct, the Etch A Sketch wouldn't work anymore. In fact, that's the point of this entire instructable- in order to preserve the drawing, the EAS can not be functional. That's why, even though I devised this method, I rarely use it.

[Mr. Potato Head]

Oh, now I get it! Speaking of non-functional Etch-a-Sketches, when I was a kid I was shaking mine quite vigorously to clear it and smacked myself in the forehead with it. The glass broke (not sure, they're probably plastic now) and all of the magic dust spilled out on the floor.

[technodude92]

So it can still be shaken and nothing will happen?

[SHIFT!]

Yep! You can shake it and turn the knobs to your heart's content, and the Etch A Sketch art will not be affected!

[craftymaven]

I moved here to attend grad school, but only finished one year of my masters' at UBC. Met this great guy there (it's his alma mater). 19 years later, we're married with three kids.

[craftymaven]

That looks like the clock tower at UBC. No?

[SHIFT!]

You got it! Is that your alma mater?

[ewfw]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Epson --------------------------------------------- Look under Wizard of Oz. Sounds toxic to me.

[Questor]

sounds like an allergy to me !

[riff raff]

Epson lived to be 95; I doubt the aluminum powder was all that problematic for him in the long run.

[SHIFT!]

Well the box does say the aluminum powder is "non-toxic" but, yeah, I definitely wouldn't breathe it in.

[ewfw]

I had heard it said that little episode put the gravel in his voice.

[CyborgGold]

Whilst this is surely a good method of keeping your art... could you not just use a rotary tool to cut holes in the back and drain the extra powder before starting your work? The holes/slots could then be cleaned and taped closed with black duct tape for a good appearance. If you stored the aluminum powder properly, you could add powder to the etch-a-sketch and start over in the event of a screw up.

[SHIFT!]

It's kind of funny that you mention that because before I even tried out my method of complete disassembly, I actually did try to drain the powder from a hole in the back (if you notice the red faceplate on my first page, you can actually see a square hole where I tried to remove the powder). The problems I found with that method were for a these reasons 1) Draining the powder from the hole isn't as easy as it sounds in theory. True, you would get a lot of it out, but it would be extremely difficult to drain out every single excess powder, which will definitely prove destructive to your artwork when its completed. A lot of the powder inside the EAS is actually friction fitted and can never be completely removed without proper cleansing. 2) In case you messed up when creating your artwork, you'd have a very very very difficult time being able to erase anything, with the metal fillings drained out. You'd have to drain them back in and then drain them back out in order to erase. True, you could drill the hole in the back afterwords, but then you'd have to be worried about the powder flying against the glass when drilling. 3) You'd still be left with the knobs & pencil in full control in this case. Let's say they got caught on something or accidentally got turned, you'd be left with a horrendous streak across your artwork and it would be ruined forever. My method gets rid of the powder and the control mechanism, leaving the drawing perfectly in tact. 4) Finally, in the long run, you'd actually be doing a lot more work for a lot less benefits by simply draining out the powder from a hole. Plus, believe me, its a WHOLE lot messier doing it that way. But anyway, thank you very much for your comment and I certainly did take it into consideration when trying to find my method.

[UltraMagnus]

the is quite a lot of evidence that aluminium powder causes Alzheimers, so don't breath it. Don't throw it away either though, store it in a bag, and use it to make thermite/thermate.

[evvo]

Yes, aluminum powder is bad for you for many reasons, but the link between aluminum exposure and Alzheimers has never been proven. In fact, the Alzheimers Society even says "no causal relationship has yet been proved. As evidence for other causes continues to grow, a possible link with aluminium seems increasingly unlikely"

[dave17]

Yes that's right.The one study that started this myth has been thoroughly discredited.NO other studies have found any link,even among people who work with Aluminum all their lives.Sadly,because of the internet people will always live in needless fear of it.

[SHIFT!]

I agree with you 1/2 of with that statement. Definitely don't breathe it in, but just throw it away. I don't want to be held liable for whatever you guys use the aluminum for, so just get rid of it!

[Kulawend]

It's a crazy world we live in when you have to worry about being liable for other people's actions

[GoGreenMan]

Please show us how you do is!! and let me know when you do post it! thanks and great work

[SHIFT!]

Thanks GoGreenMan! If you subscribe to my instructables, I can definitely alert you when my next Etch A Sketch page comes out!

[ExtremeYoshiFan]

Where can we go to see your artwork, I also want to see your technique as well, give us an instructable on that, I would love it. Do you have a site with pics on it(or even a photobucket)? I would love to see your work.

[SHIFT!]

Certainly ExtremeYoshiFan! All of my Etch A Sketch art pieces are on my Flickr photosite @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattoons/sets/72157623529793539/with/4447112224/ And if you subscribe to my instructables, I can update you when I do my next EAS related one.

[tubanator-2.0]

this is pretty cool..now if only i could draw things on an echt-asketch oh well.also awesome lugia on the last step(at least thats what it looks like to me)

[SHIFT!]

Thanks tubanator-2.0! Yeah, it's Lugia, one of my friend's favorite Legendary Pokemon. Drawing on an Etch A Sketch isn't actually as difficult as some people think it is. Like I said, I have a specialized method for making EAS artwork quickly and easily, and will probably post an instructable about it in the future. I mean I just did this image in 2 minutes.

[Kasm279]

Heh, i just got Pokemon Silver to go with Crystal that i already had. Ironic that this would be in the newsletter two days after I got the thing xD

[Korvost]

Be seriously careful when handling the aluminum powder, wear a dust mask. This stuff can seriously mess up your precious lungs.

[coswine]

Have you considered spraying the back of the glass with some hairspray (or something similar) to permanently fix the drawing? I haven't done this, so I don't know stable the final drawing is over time.

[SHIFT!]

Hmmmm, haven't thought about that but I don't think it will work. The aluminum powder is pretty much just friction stuck onto the glass, so any kind of air pressure on the glass will most likely destroy the artwork. Really, as long as you just remove the powder and the controllers, your artwork will be preserved forever.

[cowscankill]

Exciting... waiting for the next 'ible :D

[kcls]

Wow! Those are some crazy detailed drawings for an etch-a-sketch! The best I can ever manage is a stick figure or something similar. Hardly worth preserving... Great 'ible, by the way.

[SHIFT!]

Thanks kcls! I;m actually not really an artist or anything, I just really love toys!

[Trace II]

I've gotten pretty good at stairs...

[SHIFT!]

Lol, Yeah stairs are pretty cool too! In fact, this is what I'm planning for my next drawing

[kcls]

And "Roller Coasters"


_{Just squiggles all over the screen :P}

[Danger is my middle name]

awesome! I'm glad you finally posted some instructables!

[SHIFT!]

Thanks! Yeah, I've been meaning to for a while now, and just wanted to do something easy that I knew how to do. I'll probably add my more complex inventions later on too.