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ALUMINUM ETCH

I need to know what to use to make aluminum etch. We cut our parts in half to make sure there are no fold or cracks in the material. The aluminum etch brings them out.

Mandy Burns
- Kendallville, Indiana
2007

Warm sodium hydroxide will etch aluminum.

Terry Tomt
Aerospace - Auburn, Washington
2007

a.k.a. Drain-O or any industrial "caustic" based cleanser.

Milt Stevenson, Jr.
Plating shop technical manager - Syracuse, New York
2007

2007

10 grams of sodium hydroxide (Red Devil lye) will work in 90 ml of distilled water at 160F. Immerse for 5 seconds and rinse immediately in cold water.
If you dilute this to a liter, you can use it at room temperature with a swab. Takes a lot longer, but is more controllable. Are you smoothing the saw cut out with sandpaper first?
Tuckers Reagent will work better, but it requires Hydrofluoric acid which is extremely nasty.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida

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