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ted_yosem
Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
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Electro-etching brass rather than etching with nitric acid?




July 4, 2011


I have used nitric acid in the past to etch 16 gauge red brass but the nitric fumes are horrific to deal with. I was wondering if there is a reverse-plating technique that would strip metal off instead of depositing metal onto a piece of red brass. I know the leads would have to be switched, but what metal would be used for the cathode (or anode I don't know which)?
thank you in advance

Thomas Hanson
- Salt Lake City


Try very diluted nitric acid(2-3%) and brass or copper sheet as cathode.Hope it helps and good luck!

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia
July 8, 2011


Depending on your resist or ground sensitivity you may also try with diluted hydrochloric (muriatic) acid at 10% or sulfuric at 5%. When reverse etching your part becomes the anode. G. Marrufo-Mexico

Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico
July 15, 2011



Reverse etching in hydrochloric acid works well to remove the alloying metals from the surface and also to etch the copper. The color should be a light salmon color. But, over etching produces a black smut of cupric oxide. An acid dip after electroetching will remove the smut.

Lyle Kirman
consultant - Cleveland Heights, Ohio
July 19, 2011




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