Etching - first timer - advice/suggestions?
 

I just bought etching cream and will do my first etching! Any steps/advice suggestions? Im not even sure how to do it? Do i etch before or after i anneal (I bath anneal). If i dont want something etched (eyes/nose) do i paint with nail polish - someone said that? Is it then easy to get if off.

Thanks

Anneal first. Easiest thing is to leave them on mandrels. You can carefully dip them in the cream or apply the cream to the bead using a plastic palette knife or something similar. Either way, you'll want a tool to remove the excess that collects below the bead so that it doesn't drip off. Wear nitrile gloves. You don't want etching solution on your skin. Leave the cream on aprox. 20 minutes and then remove with your application tool. You then want to neutralize the remaining cream with lime (give the bead a scrub with an old toothbrush while it's in the lime and then rinse.

I will add rinse thoroughly.

I highly recommend using the liquid etching solution, not the cream. It is so much easier to use especially if your bead is not smooth.
All the best !