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Etch on printing plates is too rough and cratered

I etch Stainless steel printing plates using 42 baumé ferric chloride [on eBay or Amazon] in a spray etcher but the etch always comes out rough and cratered like the steel is running down the sheet. I pre etch in a tray of weak Ferric and water till it turns dark than into the 42 baumé spray etcher for about a minute flip the part and run another minute. Its a vertical spray. Any Ideas?

Dave Harper
Printing plate manufacturer - Haverhill, Massachusetts
July 24, 2008

Etching stainless steel in ferric chloride[on eBay or Amazon]create pitting and other problems. We have developed our own method of etching of different metals. Contact us for more information.

Anna Berkovich
Russamer Lab

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

July 30, 2008

What grade of stainless steel are you using and what is the operating temperature of your ferric chloride [on eBay or Amazon]? Is the stainless steel heat treated in any way and what is the (non-iron) metal content o your ferric chloride [on eBay or Amazon]?
Any of these could affect your etching performance.

Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist
Chesham, Bucks, UK

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