READY! GO!

 The image has been etched onto the wax-covered plate. We can start to etch the plate now but first the edges and back of the plate must be protected from the acid. I use contact paper cut to the size of the back and packing tape for the side edges making sure to place it as close to the edges as possible.

My plate is zink and my etching bath is nitric acid and water at 10%( that is 1 part acid to 10 parts water). Carefully slide the plate into the acid bath and note the time with your watch. (again use gloves, acid can be dangerous)

With the heat of the summer the acid works quickly so for delicate lines just a few minutes are enough. Bubbles will form where the drawing has been made and should be delicately brushed away using a feather ( even pigeon feathers work fine). Take the plate out of the acid, rinse well and dry. Then add more lines to the image if and where needed and return to acid bath.  This process can be repeated  until the image seems satifactory. When ready, eliminate the tape and contact paper, remove the wax from the plate using turpentine, wash with soap and alcohol, and proceed to make a test print.

ETCHING THE PLATE

Having finished the meccanical part, now the plate has to be cleaned so that there is no trace of polish or other oily substances. I use soap and then alcohol for this.  Now the plate has to be heated on the warming table in order to easily apply the etching varnish with a soft brush.

 The varnish must dry completly before you begin to draw on the plate.  I do various sketches on paper to insure that my drawing fits the size of the plate that I am using and then I transfer that to the varnish covered metal. Remember that if you transfer the image just as you see it in the sketch the printed result will be reversed. This is not a mistake by any means, but the image changes.

FROM ROUGH METAL TO HIGHLY POLISHED PLATE

I continue to prepare the etching plate which is now scratched on the surface and has sharp cutting edges.

First a metal file is used to round the corners and a scraper and burnisher are used to bevel the edges. If edges are too high and sharp the  paper will be torn during printing.

That done, with fine sandpaper and metal polish, the surface must be polished to a mirror-like finish.

DON'T forget to use gloves.  I love to dirty my hands while I work but this can really be messy at times.

  

MY TOOLBOX

Cutting a plate isn't difficult. . .

you just need a little muscle and perserverance. Of course you can buy plates that are ready for use but then you have to adapt yourself to them. I prefer making my own because I like the satisfaction of starting from scratch and making my own dimensions.

You need tools of course.  To cut, there is a particular tool (bottom of the photo) that resembles a hook. This has a flat cutting edge that is drawn across the metal plate over and over again until the cut is made. Otherwise. . .you can use a saw for metal or find a friendly blacksmith.

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Every year for Christmas I make a greeting card for my husband's business clients (and for myself).  Usually I do a small etching with "angels" as my theme. I decided this year to start now so as not to get caught in the rush and to prepare my plate with calm.

The steps are easy.  First the plate has to prepared, cut to fit the size  of the paper you will  use.

MY FIRST POST

That was Easy.  Just had to get on with it like starting a new painting, a new anything.  Bear with me. . .I'll need time and SPACE!