etchant for macros ready-made

I need a bottle of macro-etchant.

5% Nital or iodine etchant would do well.

How do you get a bottle of ready-to-use already mixed / made-up etchant? I can't be mixing Nital at home, nor storing the ingredients (nitric acid, methanol)

Could probably mix the iodine etchant at home... The ASME recommended formulation by weight:

- one part of powdered iodine (solid form)

- two parts of powdered potassium iodide

- ten parts of water Due caution, but none of these are going to burn a smoking hole through the floor into the downstairs apartment...

How do you folk go about getting etchant and what do you choose?

The plan is developing weld procedures for steel fabrication companies

- make sure that the conditions are giving good fusion, etc.

Reply to
Richard Smith
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Both of these are potentially beset with legal problems :(

Here in the UK a private citizen can't buy anything containing over 3% nitric acid, as it might be used to make explosives (not really, but that's the supposed reason for the law). You can possess preparations containing over 3% nitric acid, but you can't buy them - they are planning to make possession illegal too, but they haven't done it yet.

However you can buy iodine and potassium iodide in the UK, it is even available on eBay if you want.

In the US you can just buy 5% nital, eg

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. Afaik you can also buy nitric acid, even concentrated nitric acid, in the US without much hassle.

However in the US it is illegal to possess iodine at concentrations over

2.2%, as it can be used in meth production. That's federal law, there are some state laws too.

You can get usually get a license or registration to allow what otherwise would be illegal; but it is a hassle and can be expensive.

Buying ready-made nital is probably your best bet if in the US. Making up your own iodine etch would probably be best if in the UK.

-- Peter Fairbrother

Reply to
Peter Fairbrother

I didn't know what a macro etch was until I searched, found this video where he uses off the shelf over the counter materials. You can see what is important. He does both steel and aluminum with different type welds good and bad.

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Mikek

Reply to
amdx

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Martin

Reply to
Martin Eastburn

You folk are bril. Thanks! Rich S

Reply to
Richard Smith

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