A noob at window etching... any good??? [Archive]

Celeron_Phreak

11-09-03, 12:09 AM

Okay, I figured that if I was going to spice up my biohazard comp a little, I might as well do an etching on the side (which will be a big biohazard symbol). So I started trying out some etching on some little pieces of lexen that were left over from working on it's clear case. Here are the results:

http://dave.kulehosting.com/Window%20Etchings/quake3.jpg
Here is the first one I did this one just before I left for work today, and it took me about 40 minutes to do total. The little letters were the hardest to do.

http://dave.kulehosting.com/Window%20Etchings/quake.jpg
And here's the second. And I did it when I got home from work and eating out with the family. This one took me roughly about an hour to do, but it came out quite nicely.

I must admit, I think myself as at least "good" for a beginer who's never taken his hand to etching before, much less ever thought about it till just recently (unless you consider my on and off letters on the clear case etching :p ). How does it looks Baller? Any good for a noob? :D

Tommorw afternoon I'm doing the Counter-Strike logo, so I'll post that one too tommorw.

Bensa

11-09-03, 04:16 AM

Looks real nice :cool:. I bet you could get those edges even cleaner with a tiny file. Has someone done this, and with what results?

bsspewer

11-09-03, 09:04 AM

i've done it, if any of you remember my hulk image. Etching really is not that hard. What bit are you useing? it looks as if you've got a 107. If you had a 105 you can get smaller and sharper lines.

As far as your image goes, doesn't look bad at all. But i'm sure you can see the "waves" in the etching as a result of having to fill it in. With large etched areas, i've found that etching isn't quite the way to go. For that stuff, bead blasting is the thing you want. For tight lines and such, yea, etching is the best.

Not bad, keep it up..

NcBaller1985

11-09-03, 10:08 AM

Looks good...just practice, practice, practice, and when your done, practice some more. The great thing about doing etch's where you are going to fill the lines in, you can go back and "clean" up the outside lines. It gets a lot harder when you start doing them where there is no margin for error...like if you did say JUST the outline of the "QUAKE" lettering. Great job though!!! Keep it up!!!

Originally posted by bsspewer
Etching really is not that hard.
Get's harder as the detail goes up though. Also adds on more time.

Wait a sec...I don't have to tell you that...lol.

NcBaller1985

11-09-03, 10:15 AM

Originally posted by Celeron_Phreak
How does it looks Baller? Any good for a noob? :D

:clap:Excellent!!!!!:clap:

Tommorw afternoon I'm doing the Counter-Strike logo, so I'll post that one too tommorw.

Can't wait to see it!!!!

Celeron_Phreak

11-09-03, 02:00 PM

Actually, I'm using a 105 bit. I haven't been able to find another one of them (or even the 107) in town anywhere. This one is the one that came with our Dremel. I came up with an interesting idea today for filling it areas like that, think a 952 grinding stone on it's top side might work?

bsspewer

11-09-03, 02:32 PM

Originally posted by Celeron_Phreak
Actually, I'm using a 105 bit. I haven't been able to find another one of them (or even the 107) in town anywhere. This one is the one that came with our Dremel. I came up with an interesting idea today for filling it areas like that, think a 952 grinding stone on it's top side might work?

not sure which kind of grinding stone that is, but if it's that triangle shaped one, then nope - won't work. I tried it and found the etching bit to be much much better. You might try finding larger etching bits to give a smoother appearance to filling in areas. Like use the small bit for the edges and get a large bit for filling in.

Or, just outline everything, that always looks sweet.

Celeron_Phreak

11-09-03, 11:20 PM

Okay, no updates tonight, sorry everyone :(. Dad wanted me to help him with hte car, then AMD Phreak and I went out to get something to eat and to get him a new desk, then we came home and Kaltag was here, so we visited with him for a couple of hours, and then I had to eat and go to some youth thing at church, so all I got in today was the tracing of one of my etchings. I work tommorw, but I get back home at about 9:15, so I should be able to to at least finish the filling in of this etch.

CrystalMethod

11-12-03, 12:11 PM

I'd actually leave it rough rather than clean. Kind of like a QII throwback.

Th0r

11-12-03, 12:47 PM

Looks good as it is.... don't alter it.... CrystalMethod has a good point...

f00t

11-12-03, 02:52 PM

that looks pretty nice. especially for yor first try. I was thinking of doing the same hing for my next mod, ot Q3 though

NcBaller1985

11-12-03, 03:14 PM

Just so you know, I am working on an "in depth" etching guide. Lots of pictures and even some movies maybe. Might take me a while because, as I said, it is in depth. And since I am doing a guide, that means I am doing another etch! This etch is one of the most fun ones I have ever done. It was inspired by a members case mod on here...that is all I am going to say...don't want to let the cat out of the bag! ;)

*Edit*
And plus I want a sticky!!!!!!!! :D

Celeron_Phreak

11-13-03, 01:32 PM

Okay, it's about time I've finished some etches :). Anyway, here we go....

http://dave.kulehosting.com/Window%20Etchings/eyes1.jpg
The scratch down the back of it was there after I removed the blue covering; just remember that this is scrap lexen. Anyway, this is that eyes tattoo that someone here was going to cut their window in the form of, just with a little photoshoping done to it (I will be etching the photoshoped image as well soon). I thought I bookmarked the guy's thread, but now I can't find it. Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes

http://dave.kulehosting.com/Window%20Etchings/pentagon.jpg
Yet again, I can't find the name of the member who has this symbol as his avatar (and was going to do something with it, I think a window). Anyhow, this took me about half and hour to finish. Easy as pie 8).

http://dave.kulehosting.com/Window%20Etchings/counterstrike.jpg
Here's what set me back. This one two a total of seven hours to finish. I did this in 30 minutes to two hours intervals over the week. My week has been insanely busy, so stuff gets done quite slowly around here now. I took my time cleaning up the edges in this one. I think they looks VERY good now, at least they do compared to my others. And filling in the areas, I used the 114 etching bit on the others to fill it in. This one I used the 105 etching bit to fill in, clean up, and trace everything. It took time going in circles to fill everything in, but it all came out looking neat and clean. I hope I get some good comments on this :D

f00t

11-13-03, 01:52 PM

that cs looks pro. keep on etching

NcBaller1985

11-13-03, 02:00 PM

:DVERY NICE!!!!:D Looks we finally got someone else on here besides me and Bsspewer that has some mad etching skills. And Bsspewer has kinda faded into a black hole as far as etching goes!!! Where you at B???

Dude, honestly, I am not one to boast or anything, but once you read over this guide I am writing, you got the steady hand to be able to etch anything. I am going into as much detail as I possibly can with it. It’ll probably take me another week or two…but I am going all out. Everything from perspective to specific hand movements and lighting. Already got 5 pages typed in Word just covering what you need (bits and all that), finding a good place to etch, and finding a good design. Hopefully it’ll strike some other people’s interest on here too.

And you were right man, I actually spent like an hour trying to find a good, complete tutorial on etching and I came up with squat! Guess one was needed more then I thought.

Can’t wait to see more of your work!!! The etching bug has kinda re-bit me lately too, so after I get done doing this etching for this record company, I’ll have to do some fun stuff. Hell, now you got me all pumped to do some damn etching…might have to do one tonight!!!! I just bought new bits yesterday too. Guess I should go ahead and brake them in!!!

Keep ‘em coming!!!!

NcBaller1985

11-13-03, 02:01 PM

Oh, and is that your thumb holding the plexi up???

http://dave.kulehosting.com/Window%20Etchings/pentagon.jpg
Yet again, I can't find the name of the member who has this symbol as his avatar (and was going to do something with it, I think a window).

It starts witha K....Kata...something like that I think...that is going to bother me. He's a funny guy too.....err.....I am going to go dig through post and find that kid cause this is going to bother me...

bsspewer

11-13-03, 03:32 PM

Originally posted by NcBaller1985
Oh, and is that your thumb holding the plexi up???

http://dave.kulehosting.com/Window%20Etchings/pentagon.jpg
Yet again, I can't find the name of the member who has this symbol as his avatar (and was going to do something with it, I think a window).

It starts witha K....Kata...something like that I think...that is going to bother me. He's a funny guy too.....err.....I am going to go dig through post and find that kid cause this is going to bother me...

Kino.

I haven't faded into a black hole, i've just been swallowed up by chemestry. I'd really like to etch alot of designs, but i have no need for them once i get them etched. I don't have a bunch of computers i mod for people or anything. The only time i would begin to etch again is if there is a demand for it and someone asks me to do one for them. So..untill people would pay others to do it for them, i'm kinda out of the spotlight.

NcBaller1985

11-13-03, 03:57 PM

Yea, I just miss seeing your work. The hulk is still one of my all time favorite etchings. Maybe if we ever get enough people etching on here, a little etching competition or something. Would be interesting and fun.

Celeron_Phreak

11-13-03, 05:12 PM

Yeah, it's my thumb :). The pentegon should actully put turned upside down to be the proper orientation; I wasn't really thinking when I was taking the pictures. Thanks for the great comments guys. I think I'm going to go back over the pentegon and the eyes and clean 'em up a bit, probably fill them in properlly too...Unless you think they look fine as it is.

EDIT: I can't wait to read your tutorial. It's about time someone writes another detailed tutorial ^_^.

NcBaller1985

11-13-03, 05:18 PM

Ha..I am etching right now!!!!

DaveSauce

11-13-03, 05:24 PM

lol, yea, i drew that up in mspaint for him to show him that he could make a viable window out of it, hehe. All those holes were just so he didn't have to glue on the pieces of case to finish the design, heh.

man, all this is making me want to go to the hardware store and get a sheet of plexi so I can do a bunch of etching, lol.

btw, anyone know a good secret to getting out those ugly etch marks for large, filled in areas? My AMD logo looks just horrid with all the scratch marks in it, lol. If I had a sandblaster or something, i'd be fine....but all I got is my dremel, hehe.

NcBaller1985

11-13-03, 05:41 PM

I love it when we post right after each other!!! Our avators...ROFL!!! :burn:

About filling in the area- I personally don't like to fill in areas at all. I think outlined stuff looks much neater and more professional IMHO.

So my advice is to go to your hardware store and get a new sheet of Lexan and do your self up a new logo. Catch the wave with everybody else. ETCH!!!!!

I would offer to do you one up...but I draw the line when it comes to doing AMD logo's. (see avator) Guess that's an Intel fanboy for you!!!!

NcBaller1985

11-13-03, 05:43 PM

Oh and Celeron_Phreak, bigger is better!!! Bust out with a nice large design!!! Takes more time...but results are :D

Celeron_Phreak

11-13-03, 10:59 PM

Yeah, I was planning on doing a few full size window designs before I go directly for my main etch on the clear case. Just working my way up ;)

bsspewer

11-13-03, 11:50 PM

Originally posted by NcBaller1985
And Bsspewer has kinda faded into a black hole as far as etching goes!!! Where you at B???

by the way, if you'd like to use a nickname, i'd prefer bs or bss. B just doesn't work for me.

and speak of av's.. i'm proud of my current and new one.

NcBaller1985

11-15-03, 07:08 PM

Originally posted by bsspewer

B just doesn't work for me.

and speak of av's.. i'm proud of my current and new one.

Aighty...bss works for me.

I do like the new avator too...lol.

da-gokesta

11-15-03, 11:15 PM

what do you use to etch? dremel? sandblaster?

NcBaller1985

11-16-03, 09:03 AM

dremel

madsam

11-16-03, 10:21 AM

are there sandblasters available cheap for use on etching? i have a dremel, and a flex shaft for it as well.

can someone maybe post a pic of the typical dremel bits, and their numbers, for those of us who haven't ventured to etching?

also, i hope that tutorial comes out....sounds like a winner....and a possible sticky....;)

nice etching jobs guys.

we could also use some links to other etching jobs that folks have done...some easy ones, and some hard ones would be sweet...for reference.
;)

bsspewer

11-16-03, 11:03 AM

Originally posted by madsam
are there sandblasters available cheap for use on etching? i have a dremel, and a flex shaft for it as well.

can someone maybe post a pic of the typical dremel bits, and their numbers, for those of us who haven't ventured to etching?

also, i hope that tutorial comes out....sounds like a winner....and a possible sticky....;)

nice etching jobs guys.

we could also use some links to other etching jobs that folks have done...some easy ones, and some hard ones would be sweet...for reference.
;)

i'll have to send a better photo of my etching to ncballer for the guide. I'm sure it'll be included as one of the tougher etches to do.

any dremel will do..and the bits can be found at home depot or lowe's. They're called "etching bits", and the numbers commonly used begin with the smallest bit: 105, 107, and higher. The higher the number, the larger the bit. They are rather small and only look like a ball on the tip of thin conical shaft.

If you want a sandblasted look, there are threads talking about use a bead box; which is commonly used by mechanics to blast engine parts. It's only a box that has the bottom filled with tiny glass beads, they get picked up and blasted at the part by just an air compressor nozzle. Works great for giving a frosted look. If you want design's, you have to mask w/ tape first.

madsam

11-16-03, 11:15 AM

bss,

it looks like i might like the frosted look. would i still need to do the outline of the design with the dremel, and the etching bit, ahead of time? wouldn't the bead method make a rough edge? even with it masked off?

bsspewer

11-16-03, 01:23 PM

Originally posted by madsam
bss,

it looks like i might like the frosted look. would i still need to do the outline of the design with the dremel, and the etching bit, ahead of time? wouldn't the bead method make a rough edge? even with it masked off?

i don't think it'll make a rough edge. And no, you do not need to do an outline with the dremel. All you would have to do is mask off with masking tape and then use a razor blade or an exacto knife to cut your design into the tape. It's not so easy though. I also don't know where you could find someone with a bead blaster, because i recommend not using one a mechanic uses. The reason for that is because there is going to be dirt and particles that will embed into your plexi that were left over from the parts they cleaned. I have heard of a guy around me that does airbrushing and artwork like that for other people and also has a bead blaster for this exact reason. You might have someone like that around you.

The frosted look would be great, but it is really hard to cut out the thin lines in the masking tape, the blade just doesn't like to cut a curve so easily.

Let me dig up my hulk image to show you the detail you can achieve much easier with etching than if you went bead blasting.

NcBaller1985

11-16-03, 01:28 PM

wow...Celeron Phreak...I don't think your getting your thread back...lol. :D

Bss, I'd like a picture of that Hulk for my guide, it be a good example of the detail you can do.

LutaWicasa

11-16-03, 10:40 PM

Originally posted by bsspewer

Let me dig up my hulk image to show you the detail you can achieve much easier with etching than if you went bead blasting.

bsspewer.......clean out your PM box so we can communicate.

bsspewer

11-16-03, 10:48 PM

Originally posted by LutaWicasa

bsspewer.......clean out your PM box so we can communicate.

wow..red. :) cleaned..not sure where to look to know how full it is. I know somewhere it tells how many messages are saved in there..i'll find that..

Celeron_Phreak

11-18-03, 01:08 PM

Well to be honest, I've kinda forgotten about the etching FOR THE TIME BEING. I've been really busy with school, work, and I've been working on two PlayStations that went bad one me. I asked for this Saturday off so I could go to a LAN party, and every time I ask for a day off, they ALWAYS make me work every day of the week they can; kinda funny.

But I hope I can get one more etch finished before christmas comes along. AMD Phreak likes my etching soo much that he wants me to etch the logo of his favorite Delta Force Clan into his window :D

It's okay that you all talk about other ways of etching here, I'd thought about a bead blaster box for etching before I did the dremel, but I think that using a dremel gives you more of a feeling of ownership to the artwork, since you personally did all the work your self with such a primitive tool.