Summary for graphic hard ground Discussion
Graphic hard ground is the key issue in this etching question: Lars Tougaard says his graphic hard ground wax is not resisting Edinburgh solution well enough when etching stainless steel with the knife as anode, so small figures are being etched out of control. In response, Carol Robertson recommends Lascaux Hard Resist, a paint-on acrylic resist that replaces solvent-based hard ground. She says it is very mordant resistant and works well on copper, zinc, and steel, while still being waxy enough to draw fine lines into. Her application advice is to use a very soft square-ended flat brush and dry the plate flat. For removal, she suggests Evans Vanodine Mystrol cleaner, noting it is safer to use than solvents. The thread is a practical recommendation rather than a debate, focused on improving resist durability without losing drawing precision.
Q. I etch figures drawn in graphic hard ground wax in stainless steal with Edinburg solution (ferric chloride
⇦ on
eBay or
Amazon [affil link] + citric acid
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or
Amazon [affil link] ) with the knife as anode (+12 V). The problem is that the wax cannot resist the etching satisfactorily, as small pictures are etched out of control. I want a hard ground which can resist the etching but is fine for drawing the fine lines of the figure.
Lars Tougaard
Tougaard knives – Faaborg, Denmark
A. Try Lascaux Hard resist which is a paint-on acrylic resist which replaces the role of solvent-based hard ground. It is very mordant resistant and works well on copper, zinc and steel. Use a very soft square-ended flat brush to apply the resist and dry the plate flat. It is waxy so is easy to draw into. Remove the resist with Evans Vanodine Mystrol cleaner which is also safe to use in comparison to solvents.
Carol Robertson
– Scotland, UK