Question ??
 

I recently used acid etch to etch some glass beads. They are a dark transparent red and a transparent olive green 104 glass. when I took them out of the acid and washed them off a white haze/streaks appeared. Why ? Did I do something wrong? is the acid etch getting old? What can I do to get rid of this haze

Liz R

I use Whink to get the haze off and the metallic finish off of turquoise.

Thanks I'll give it a try.
Liz R

There is a great recipe for olive oil and beeswax "finish" coat for etched beads. It will remove the tendency for the haze or chalky residue to return to the beads. They should be scrubbed first, with a toothbrush or similar thing, after they are removed from their etch bath and rinsed. They should also not be left in the etch bath too long.

Lavendar Creek Blog: https://lavendercreekglass.wordpress...ching-part-ii/

As I recall a wash with washing soda will neutralize the etchant I scrub the beads well with washing soda and it seems to take care of the white residue. It is one of the reasons I tumble beads unless they have raised elements.

Georgia

Kristin Thank you for the recipe , Think I'll give that a try. I don't have much luck with a tumbler, so I ended up giving that away.
Liz R

The residue is the etching continuing, so the neutralizing step will take care of it. There was a recent discussion on FB about this, and lime is recommended, per the MSDS sheet. I bought a small bag of calcium carbonate on Amazon and use a little of that in the rinse.


I love Theresa's finish coat recipe, but if you don't have time for that, try lavender scented Badger Balm, I think it's the sleepy-time one.

Haze
 

Tumble them this time and next time.

It's an acid residue.
Immediately after etching is complete put your beads in either a baking soda/water mixture or milk to neutralize the etching acid. Then rinse with water. Works like a charm.

Several hours sitting in Coke or Pepsi will also clean them up. Don't know if you should drink it afterward though...Ernie Wagner

And I will add be careful with the Whink.

I took the shine off the bottom of my porcelain sink because I did not neutralize Whink with baking powder in plastic container before pouring the used liquid down the drain.

But you wouldn't use coke or whink in this instance right? You need to neutralize the acid from etching, this isn't 'grime' from reduction issues.
Unless I'm missing something, don't want to confuse people.

Correct, the haze is acid residue, continuing to attack the glass. (And probably not too great for the skin, either.)