Etched Bead Caps

[nickandryan]

Hi Everyone-

I posted a new tutorial on my website- I put together what I've learned from making etched bead caps for my silver cored beads- thought maybe it ight help someone get started on this- it's a fun and pretty easy project- plus it really sets off your lampwork nicely!

The link is:

http://chestnutridgedesigns.com/sect....aspx?bp_id=15

Enjoy Laura

[Snowfirebeads]

Laura,
Nicely written, and I'm sure many will be able to use it in the future! Two things you might want to add....When you say to go around all the washers and make sure they are covered, you don't mention what you used (I'm assuming it was the permanent paint pen, but it doesn't say). Secondly, it might help if you list all of the tools to collect before getting started at the top.

Great work and Great pics!

PS, might want to mention to work in a well ventilated area too. I think the bottle suggests gloves? I dont' remember.

Thanks again!
Chris

[glasslass2]

What a great tut Laura, thanks very much for posting this.

As I don't do the BHBs yet, is there anywhere I can purchase smaller blank discs? I'd love to try this. I searched Etsy but didn't come up with anything.

Thanks
kat

[glasshobbit]

Thank you for the info Laura.

[Karen Hardy]

WONDERFUL tutorial!

[nickandryan]

Thanks Karen- I appreciate it!

Kat- I have a link in there to ginko's Etsy shop- she has all the blanks for the caps and the tubing- I buy everything from her and she has great service

Hi Chris- I will put the pen info in ther more prominently- I did use a paint pen for all the designs- thanks for the input, I am a bad editor of my own posts-

Laura

[lysa]

Great tutorial!

Thanks

[ironmountainglass]

Just wonderful, I am really getting into making my own bead caps so this will help me so much.Thanks for taking the time and for posting your tutorial.

[squid]

A little tip for the belts for the Harbor freight tumbler. I have one and broke two belts in less than a day, so I took the belt to my vacuum store and found a belt - a Hoover Belt 38528-035 - is the exact length of a HF belt. It is wider - wide enough to cut 4 or more belts out of it with a razor. I still have the first one I ever put on it - 3 years now. The belt is less than $5.

[m_rivkah]

Great tutorial, thank you so much.

[nickandryan]

Thanks Squid for the tip- We thought about that too, but have HF in town, so we went over there and picked up a package of the belts. I'll bet the vacuum belts are much more reliable. Laura

[blong2001]

Thanks for sharing! These look beautiful!

[fyrebeadz*]

How nice! Thank-you!

[carrieb]

Chiming in to say.........Thank-You for sharing!!! CarrieB

[Parrotise]

Wonderful! Thanks for sharing!

[Anne Ricketts]

Brilliant!! Thanks for sharing this!!

[artwhim]

Wonderful tut! Can't imagine it being any more clear than the way you wrote it!

[cakey]

This is great!! Do I understand that the pen has something to do with the etching chemical resisting in that area? Is that a dumb question?
Will a Sharpie marker work the same?

[nickandryan]

Thanks everyone- I tried so many different things, it felt good to get it all down in writing

Cakey- Yes, the pen works as a resist- the areas that you draw on will be the raised design. I tried a Sharpie the first time, and it etched right off. The pen I bought is actually paint- it holds up well during the etching process.

[Beadanna]

This is great Laura. I don't know if I'll ever get around to using it - a lot more tools and substances to be imported to Ireland. . .
It is really beautifully done - I love your style, comprehensive and yet easy-going.
Thanks for sharing it!

[Laura B]

Originally Posted by cakey

This is great!! Do I understand that the pen has something to do with the etching chemical resisting in that area? Is that a dumb question?
Will a Sharpie marker work the same?

Great tutorial! How very nice of you to do this for the community.

As to the Sharpie... regular Sharpies do not act well as resists. You must get a "Sharpie oil-based paint marker" if you use them as resists. BTW Sharpie's version of "fine" isn't... it's quite fat. You want to find "extra fine".

[sugarNspice]

Thank you quite informative much appreciated

[LeahBeads]

Thank you so much for this tutorial! I've been wanting to start doing bead caps and coring this year, so this tut is really helpful!!

Leah

[glasslass2]

Does anyone know where to buy the blank cap discs that are pre drilled for smaller bead holes? I've gone to the Etsy link in this post but all Ginko has are discs drilled for the pandora size beads. Should I order the blanks and have dh drill them out to fit the 5/64 or 3/32 holes? What does everyone else use for smaller beads?

[BellaBean]

I use MonsterSlayer.com for all of my washers.

[fullajoyy]

Great tutorial! Thanks for sharing.

I have been etching for a while and now use what is called the "Edinburgh Etch". The resulting etch will be faster, easier, cleaner and will allow the solution to be used numerous times before it is spent.

You can read more about it here http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nenam/safe-etching.htm

For copper or brass, here's the solution:
The mixture is based on the overall ratio of;
4/5 ferric chloride (PCB etchant)
1/5 citric acid solution (this consists of 3/4 tap water and 1/4 Citric acid
powder)

Note: For citric acid solution- dissolve 1 oz. citric acid in 3 oz. very hot but not boiling water

Here's what I use:
* 16 oz ferric chloride
* 3 oz H 2 O (hot tap water)
* 1 oz citric acid powder (anhydrous)

Make a separate bath for the different types of metals.

Here's a photo of an etch done by my partner and I using this method. It's very deep and clean.

[PattyK]

Thank you Laura for another OUTSTANDING tutorial!

[LeahBeads]

Can this etching solution be used on sterling silver or just copper/brass?

Leah

[glasslass2]

Thanks Cori.

[fullajoyy]

Originally Posted by LeahBeads

Can this etching solution be used on sterling silver or just copper/brass?

Leah

It can only be used on brass, copper and aluminium. It does not work on fine silver or sterling silver.