We now begin lesson 2 in the multi-part series Etching 101, Graphic transfer & Touch-up. If you haven’t read through the first part- Sanding & Masking- go back and do that first. If you’re ready to move on and are anxious to get to the etching, too bad- gather this stuff up, first:
- Household Iron- Any iron will work, and be assured it won’t be ruined.
- Lighter Fluid- If you can’t find any, rubbing alcohol will do.
- Press N’ Peel- You’ll probably have to order this online. Smallbear electronics can hook you up.
- Your Graphic- A nice, sharp black & white graphic, printed at 300dpi or more.
- The enclosure- from Part 1
- Heart-shaped cookie cutter- No, not really.
- Black enamel model paint (not pictured)- Used to touch up any errors in the transfer
Alright, this step in the process can be the most frustrating, so be prepared for a little trial & error. I suggest you read through this entire article before attempting anything, and if you take your time it should be relatively painless. The first thing to do is get the graphic for etching in order.
Hey Preston,
January 15, 2010 @ 6:54 AMThanks for answering my question on part one. Here is one for this part of the procedure. Instead of making a photocopy of the graphic, could the Press N Peel be run (and printed) through a laser printer instead (assuming you have one)? Isn’t the toner the same (or similar) to a photocopy? This would save a step, and be a bit more acurate.
Thanks again for this.