Using house hold hydrogen peroxide and white vinegar for phot etching

[grsjax]

While doing some research on photo etching I ran across this item.  It is about making printed circuit boards but the etching part is what is most interesting.  The etchant is a mixture of plain white vinegar and 3% hydrogen peroxide with a little table salt.  Much less toxic/dangerous than the typical hydrochloric acid or ferric chloride etchant.  I have not tried this yet but it looks like a good method.

 

http://quinndunki.com/blondihacks/?p=835

[Richard Griffith]

Good morning G, thanks for the info.

 

I use straight white vinegar, but will try a little peroxide next time.  As a follow on experinent, will add a pinch of salt.  

 

Happy modelling.

 

Duff

[druxey]

Vinegar does the trick and is relatively safe, but is very slow in acting. I'm not sure what good salt will do: vinegar is an acid, salt is a base. They will counteract each other.

[Keith_W]

If it is table salt you are talking about, it is not a base. The pH of NaCl is 7.

[JeffT]

I use the vinegar method also and it works great. I soak the photo etch for about 20 minutes.