Etched Copper

I took the etched pieces and cleaned them up using the 0000 steel wool

The first one I  painted a resin coating on 

That should keep the shiny coat

The next ones I used the Gilders paste to seal them 

Cant really see some of the colours or the shine it gives.  Need to get a new camera. But you can see the deep etch I am getting.  I still prefer the PnP Blue iron on material to the transparency - its consistent to get the resit ont and makes clear images.

What I eventually want to do is create backgrounds to rivet on.  Here is one I used a textured hammer - the pieces are not riveted on yet as I'm not sure what what I really want to do.  And I am thinking about rivets and small screws and nuts.

Zentangle Etched PnP - cleaned pieces

Yup got up at 4:00 a.m. and out to the studio - it was 9 hours - but that does not mean I leave it 9 hours every time.  Dependant upon fresh chemical, if I added citric acid, if I aerate it  etc.. you normally would keep an eye on it and I don't always do the get up in the middle of the night - although it just mean I'm excited to get something done and see what the results are - I like those days

Cleaned up pieces (note that I also neutralized in baking soda) I used a dremel with a copper head brush and got the coolest patina - cleaning with the brush created some heat and the copper makes this really cool purply patina.  Once I use the steel wool to clean more it will be gone.  I can use these to enamel with, rivet other pieces onto or just create a pendant - put a hole to the top for a simple pendant.  But I will want to seal them.  I guess I could seal them now with a cover coat of clear  (or resin) and keep the colors... or use the black enamel to highlight the lines like in a regular zentangle pattern, or use the coloured wax sealers   called  Gilders Paste - so many options.....- we will see ..... I will be making more

Th PnP does put a better resist on the copper

Zentangle Etching - Using PnP Blue Paper

The PnP paper is used as a resist for  etching Circuit Boards but can be used as a metal resist as well.
Here is what the paper looks like. Its vibrant blue - and the one side is dull and you can scrape the blue off the plastic backing.

You can print anything you want on the paper - I like to fill it up and in this case with my Zentangle pattern.
I take my copper stamping and cut around it to get my piece for ironing on .

You put the black toner face down onto the copper blank

Using an iron (same as with the transparency toner) you iron it onto the copper.  Same instructions.  Heat up and burnish with edge of iron. But its not as much work as the transparencies and does not take quite as long and the image left is very dense.

Hard to see here but its a deep navy blue.

I made up some and put them into the larger Ferric Chloride bath using packing tape and the resist side down into the bath. You don't have to submerge, you can just make them touch the surface.

So now I have to wait - I did the transparency ones for about 5 hours - I think I'll leave these ones for longer - may be all night - I have left stuff too long and it virtually ate it away so I may have to set my clock and get up for 2 or 3 am - why so long... old  used ferric chloride - I have fresh but I'll just use this up.  I could add citric acid and put an aerator (like the kind for fish tanks ) to move the ferric chloride and it would help to speed things up.

Pic of what the pages looked like after cutting - still more pieces can be used for another time.

Zentangle Etching with Transparencies and Laser Printer - Results on Copper

The toner resist works - more work than the PnP (I'll show the PnP next) but it does work
Have not really cleaned them up but enough that I took off the resist so you can see the raised work- although I like the rustic patina look.  Now I would like a deeper etch as then I can also use them for enamelling and colouring with resin.

cleaned pieces - The transparencies work but it is more work- If I had left longer would have been a deeper etch. 

Zentangle Etching - Trying out Transparency Toner Transfer as resist

I was reading a book I got on Anodized Aluminium - (I so want to do this) and there was a section where they used a Transparency - through a laser printer  (ink jet wont do) I've been using PnP Blue and they are fairly expensive per sheet - have to order - transparencies you can get at staples or any stationary store.

I made a few transparencies when I made the first Zentangle sheet for Decals, and rubber stamps so I thought I'd give it a try.

I have Copper stampings (from Thompson Enamels and from Metaliferous) that I use for my enamelling so I got a few of those out, some steel wool (0000), exacto knife, and my iron.

I got the transparency and cut out the shape of my copper piece - you can cut a big piece - I just did not want to waste any of the transparency.

You want to take your steel wool and clean one side of the copper/silver - you need to clean off any oils - including those from your hands -

You will do it one more time  or wait till after you cut out your transparency - but long as you do it just before putting the transparency on the copper and ironing it on.

Cut out your piece

Be sure to position on copper Blank

Heat your iron up on about medium - you do not want too hot to melt the transparency
You may have to play with this part as everybody has a different iron - no steam
Place the flatest part  of the iron right on the piece and push down for about 30 seconds. This should make it adhere to the copper.
Keep the heat on it and pushing down. let sit 30 seconds pushing down and use the edges almost like burnishing.  WAIT FOR IT TOO COOL- ITS HOT
The first attempt I think my iron was not high enough and I did not push down or burnish enough - so you can see all the toner did not stick.

In my second attempt I did all above - pushed down, burnished and let sit on top for 30 seconds at a time and kept the iron moving over and burnishing with the edges.

This one is nice and dark - couple of spots that look light but I'll show how to fix next time.

Here is what the transparency looks like after you peel off 

Then I prepared the copper by putting a strip of packing tape on the back - running my nail around the edge so that it would stick and then put into a bath of Ferric Chloride (Radio Shack in U.S.A I have access to chemical company here in Canada and got samples )  Once you see it is deep enough take out - and I would suggest using gloves take the copper piece and rinse under cold water.  Take off the tape and dip the piece in a mix of water and baking soda to neutralize the acid.  Use goo gone to take off the sticky backing from the tape.  Clean with steel wool - you can also pickle to clean it up.

Made another

Both are in the etch - I'll visit in about 1 hour to see how they are doing.  Depending on the strength of your etch it can take a short or a long period to etch - you just have to keep watching how deep you want it.
So far been 3 hours - its etching but its not as deep as I want yet. So I'll keep going till its deep enough


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Full Sheet Unmounted Zentangle Rubber Texture Stamp - with Clay

I said I was sold out - but I did get to keep one sheet of unmounted texture sheet.
I got to finally try it out with clay today : The clay should not be too wet  and I used it with my slab roller - but a rolling pin will do- I am going to make a nice reverse image clay block that I can use as well for stamping.

I took some cutters and started cutting out the shapes from the sheet of clay

On Break

This week I have taken a break - show is finished , winters coming so I decided to take a break
Now that the weekend is here I have to finish winterizing for the horses and prepare for the snow. Had a bit yesterday morning for a surprise - down in the city they had nothing - typical.  So a few chores today and then I can get back to playing and preparing for the spring show.  So I should have more step by steps and hopefully some video to back it up.

I have more zentangle rubber stamps coming - sold out at show - and I'll be putting them on etsy
So blog with you all soon.