hi, i saw somewhere (and i believe it was on here a few months ago) about using ferric chloride for an etching solution. It is readily available at places like Radio Shack as a computer board etchant (and very cheap – 3.00 for a 16 oz. bottle).

anyways, i picked some up for the hell of it, and i’m wondering now about using it with zinc plates. I’ve looked in my normal reference book [U]The Complete Printmaker[/U] (which i highly recommend) and it only talks about ferric chrloride with copper. It also says you must etch with the etched side down, so the particles will fall off, or mix with small part of HCL to get bubbles so you can etch facing up, but still have to agitate the liquid, to prevent settling of particles.

I am ultimately trying to avoid mixing with any other acid, so i can do this cheaply at home.

i figured before i try out some test plates, i’d check in on here again and see what you all have to say.

happy printing!!

Hey Sarah,
Welcome I looked at your website and have to say I love your prints. I found some info on using ferric chloride on zinc as opposed to copper plates and I have to say it looks like it may be pretty toxic with zinc, so you would want to take percautions, but there is mentioned some safer ways to etch zinc with Bordeaux, I hope this helps.

http://perso.club-internet.fr/gravert/galvetch/bordeaux.htm

When I was in college we had two separate set ups for etching with ferric choloride for copper, and another set up for the acid used in zinc plates. Ferric choloride is the least toxic of the acids, but it can only be used safely with copper.

Etching zinc with ferric WILL emit some bad things, Notably hydrogen gas. But, If you use proper ventilation, which you should be doing anyway, you should be OK- Especially on small plates.

There are methods of etching Zinc that are considered by many to be much safer- Like Copper Sulphate. It’s also readily available, and cheap, too. Here is an article about it- http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/Arts/Graphicartists/Printmakingmethods/Theintagliomethods/historyofelectrolytic/EtchingWithoutAcid/ZincPlates/ZincPlates.htm

Remember, do NOT use nitric acid under any circumstance with Zinc, unless you are positive that there is a better life waiting for you elsewhere!

I have a litre of 42% solution purchased from Langridge Artists Colours in Melbourne at their webpage. The label says Etching solution for zinc and copper. I rang them and they confirmed that it was suitable for etching zinc.