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Registered Member #190
Joined: Fri Feb 17 2006, 12:00AM
Location:
Posts: 1567
I'm going to etch glass for a project. I would like an even etching. Would HF acid be best or sand blasting/sanding? Anyone have any thoughts? If I use HF acid, any suggestions for the concentration?
Registered Member #3414
Joined: Sun Nov 14 2010, 05:05PM
Location: UK
Posts: 4245
This stuff contains around 5% HF, I've not tried it on glass, though. I imagine given time it should do something. If you spill it on your skin you'll need limbs, etc. amputated, though
Safety sheet here:
EDIT: Wikipedia says this: "Acid etching is done using hydrofluorosilic acid (H2SiF6) which, when anhydrous, is colourless. The acid is prepared by dissolving silica in a mixture of hydrofluoric acid, quartz powder, calcium fluoride and concentrated sulfuric acid derived after heating.
Glass etching cream is used by hobbyists as it is generally easier to use then acid. Available from art supply stores, it consists of fluoride compounds, such as sodium fluoride and hydrogen fluoride (which are still very dangerous). The fluoridation of the glass causes the characteristic rough, translucent qualities of frosted glass."
Registered Member #190
Joined: Fri Feb 17 2006, 12:00AM
Location:
Posts: 1567
Yup. I've read that stuff. I'm trying to use a sander right now to get the effect I want rather than play around with HF. I don't need it dissolving my bones or penetrating my cornea. HF would be a last resort.
I still remember a Dartmouth professor dying from a methylated mercury compound used for calibrating a NMR machine. I don't need any more risks.
Registered Member #396
Joined: Wed Apr 19 2006, 12:55AM
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 176
Definitely sandblasting. I have the blaster shown here:
It works quite well for very small jobs and can be used with a very small compressor or even bottled gas. A variety of surface finishes are possible with different medias and blasting pressures.
Registered Member #2099
Joined: Wed Apr 29 2009, 12:22AM
Location: Los Altos, California
Posts: 1716
[edit] As Ash Small already pointed out... [\edit]
Arts and crafts stores sell glass etching cream, which definitely contains fluoride. I have used it with Q-tips to remove oxide layers from IC's, to get a better view with a microscope. The fluoride ions are identical to the ones in dilute HF, and I don't know how the metallic cations affect the toxicology.
Here one product: Do not eat it or get it in your eyes.
You can use concentrated hot NaOH or KOH as well, but it is slower and tends to leave a rougher finish on the glass. It doesn't always leave the frosted effect that F leaves either. I've used it in the past for small jobs, but I've never had access to a sandblaster.
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etching glass
