| Search our quarter-million Q&As |
Home of the finishing HOTLINE since 1989
-----Etch on printing plates is too rough and cratered
I etch Stainless steel printing plates using 42 baumé ferric chloride ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] 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 HarperPrinting plate manufacturer - Haverhill, Massachusetts
July 24, 2008
Etching stainless steel in ferric chloride ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] create pitting and other problems. We have developed our own method of etching of different metals. Contact us for more information.
Anna Berkovich
(ed. update July, 2025: sorry, Anna has retired)
July 30, 2008
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 [affil link] ? 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 [affil link] ?
Any of these could affect your etching performance.
Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist
Chesham, Bucks, UK
Sorry! Finishing.com is temporarily Read-Only.
Ted Mooney is retiring but I have several offers to take it over.
We're working hard to make sure we find it the best new home.