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Etching of steel texture plates for rolling mill with copper sulfate & salt

January 31, 2022

Q. I'm a jeweler with a BFA in metalsmithing and I'm expanding into acid etching. I plan on using copper sulphate and salt to etch mild steel plates for use in a rolling mill to texturize precious metals to use in my jewelry. I have read a fair amount about the process but want to make sure I'm being safe about this. Originally I was going to do it indoors (wearing a respirator, splash proof goggles and gloves) directly under a window with a double window fan pulling air/fumes to the outside but I'm wondering if this is enough. I also have a solder pure filtration machine to extract fumes when silver soldering as an option but I am not sure how effective this would be either. Should I do it outside? (as in the video I watched) My problem with setting up outside now is that I live in Massachusetts and it's 30 degrees out there so I wasn't sure how the temperature affects the process and if there is an ideal temperature range I should be working in. The only outside option I can think of that's not out on my deck is to work in my garage with the door open.
Thanks in advance for any info you may have!

Elizabeth Burkwit
- Wayland, Massachusetts