My Etching Week

This was a week of etching.

 

Preparing to make earrings or necklaces or bracelets, I etched a batch of 1" diameter brass discs.

After coming out of the etchant bath, all of the discs were cleaned with a brass brush and pumice powder followed by a vigorous cleaning with soapy water and a soaking in the pickle pot.

Those discs with a more delicate pattern were then heated with the acetylene torch to develop a heat patina. 

Cleaning with a fine grit sanding block brings out the lovely details, and the discs are now ready for whatever project fits my mood.

I also etched a strip of brass thinking that this may become a bracelet....more to come as this develops.

 

And....

deciding to use some of my etched metal stockpile,

this ring was one of the projects that came off of my workbench a couple of days ago. 

Using a template, I marked and cut an oval shape from some previously etched silver nickel.

The edges were filed and sanded before I shaped the piece with my large cupola dap.

The etched oval was soldered onto a ball peen textured shank before a sterling bezel was soldered into place.

 

After 3o minutes in the pickle pot, the almost completed ring was soaked in a vinegar/hydrogen peroxide mixture.

Using bezel setting tools, a small disc pearl was nestled into the sterling bezel, and....

 

ready to wear.