Tools and raw materials

OK, so we’ve made our Budget Heated Etching Tank in 15 minutes and it seems to work fine, or does it??? 

To make this Budget Heated Etching Tank really effective in its one and only function, we have to create some motion in the etching solution. This is often referred to as agitation. 

Why agitate the solution? 

 In simple terms, as soon as the copper meets the acid it forms a copper chloride film over its surface and that film prevents the copper underneath from getting exposed to the acid. As the copper chloride dissolves more copper is exposed and the process repeats. To speed up the etching process we need to move the copper chloride film away from the copper to allow the acid to reach the fresh copper. The method I use is to pass air though the etching solution using an air stone. The bubbles generated by the air stone is more than enough to agitate the solution for some really effective etching. 

OK, here is what I did to expand Budget Heated Etching Tank. 

you need the following: 

• First off, you need to have made the Budget Heated Etching Tank
• An aquarium air stone which can be found at most good pet shops
• Approximately 1 metre of plastic air tube to fit your air stone. Again, this can be found at most good pet shops
• Some fibre reinforced tape (gaffa tape, duck tape, etc.)
• A hot melt glue gun with glue stick.
• A drill with a drill bit which roughly the same diametre as the air tube

To make the unit less prone to falling apart glue the bracket (from the first article) in place 

Hole for air tube

Drill a hole in the side of the jug about 1 inch from the top. Not too low or the etching solution will leak out. 

Feed air tube through hole

Feed air tube through hole and make it lay on the floor of the jug. 

Air stone to air tube

 Attach the air stone to the air tube. Go easy because these air stones are brittle. 

Fixing the air tube and air stone in position

Now place the air stone on the floor of the jug so that it isn’t touching the sides of the jug. Tape fix the air tube in position ensuring to tape over the in the side of the jug. 

Seal with hot melt glue

 Seal the hole around the air tube where it exits the jug with hot melt glue. 

Attatch the air pump

Connect the air pump, add some water to the jug and power up the jug. The water in the jug should be bubbling away. if not then check for kinks, cuts and blockages in the air tube. 

Agitation in action

Note only use water to do this stage, it’s the safest liquid you have.  If you use the etching solution for this, it will get very messy very quickly.

Budget Heated Etching Tank Expanded.

And the you have it. The Budget Heated Etching Tank has succesfully been Expanded.