bracconiere
Jolly Alcoholic - In Remembrance 2023
if that was at me, i did make a clean spot with my car battery charger, 12v 2 amps.......just want it to be black...
How to add permanent volume markings to a kettle (illustrated)
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if that was at me, i did make a clean spot with my car battery charger, 12v 2 amps.......just want it to be black...
ClaudiusB
Well-Known Member
I used 24 V DC and 4 A max to do my version of etching to get a nice relief.
A foam brush was my tool of choice.
bracconiere
Jolly Alcoholic - In Remembrance 2023
looks like my clean spot...how did you get the black?
ClaudiusB
Well-Known Member
Use DC for etching your numbers then switch to AC for darkening.
I tried this today with a 9 volt battery. I definitely got some etching but it's a lot harder to see than many of the examples here. I'll have to find a wall wart and maybe more salt and give it another try.
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It never worked for me
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If you use DC it just etches and dulls the finish. So it shows up much better on highly polished SS. If you use an ac adapter (120AC to say 24 volts AC or less) The etching will be black and show up much better. Also, if you are etching on a site glass the metal encasement has a clear acrylic coating that must be sanded or dessolved off in order to conduct an electric current. As for the mixture a tablespoon of salt to a shot or so of vinegar, it's not a precise ratio.
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MentalThinking
As opposed to the other kinds.
I've just been directed to this thread, as I'm looking for a much smaller kettle than is usually sold with etched markings.
I'm wondering if something like this engraving tool would also work? A little overkill when everyone here seems to be using a 9v and a q-tip, but I'd have to purpose-buy the battery, wire and q-tip anyway, so it's not really an issue for me.
The reviews on amazon seem to say that it works well for metal, but if anyone has a tool similar that can chime in how well it works on SS, that'd be swell!
I'm wondering if something like this engraving tool would also work? A little overkill when everyone here seems to be using a 9v and a q-tip, but I'd have to purpose-buy the battery, wire and q-tip anyway, so it's not really an issue for me.
The reviews on amazon seem to say that it works well for metal, but if anyone has a tool similar that can chime in how well it works on SS, that'd be swell!
I have two 2-gallon IKEA pots that had black volume markings on them, likely electroplated. They've gotten dimmer with each cleaning and over time been polished out completely. I use (cheap, 10/$1) dollar store abrasive nylon scrubby pads, sometimes with some BKF. Engraving should hold up a bit better.
I've used an engraving ball like that on my dremel. It's very difficult to get straight lines and draw numbers, the tool tends to wander.
Markings are overrated, IMO. I measure volumes that go in, estimate boil off, and top up as needed. You can use a ruler or a marked dowel/stick you calibrated to your pot.
My main brew kettles have no markings. The 8 gallon one is 1.5 inch to the gallon. I use a ruler or measuring tape from the top, measuring the headspace height. Subtract.
I guess it depends on your patience and artistic ability. I haven’t used that model specifically, but like @IslandLizard pointed out, that type of tool is difficult (for me, damn near impossible) to make straight lines (or repeatable curved ones). I use one for engraving hand tools with my name and such. Works like a charm, but I’m not really concerned with those aesthetics.....
MentalThinking
As opposed to the other kinds.
Do you think it'd work alright if I were using stencils? No way I'd try and freehand it, hah - I need a ruler just to think straight.
Lol, I know the feeling! That’s a definite maybe on the stencils though. My first thought is that the tool would simply veer off the stencil path with little problem. If you are going to buy stencils anyway, I’d suggest trying the etching method spelled out here first. It’s super cheap and easy to try!
Stealthcruiser
Well-Known Member
You can find vinyl stencils online. Alphabet, numbers, dashes, etc. The ones I have are thick enough to survive a few light etchings from an engraving tool.
This worked like a charm for me on my new kettle. Just followed as originally posted with a 9V battery on SS. I used painters' tape to lay out the marks, and free handed the numbers. Hardest part was finding a way to mark the kettle for each volume. I ended up using a black crayon from the kids' art supply drawer LOL
CodeSection
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Nice job!
Here's mine. Super easy. The biggest difficulty is being able to tell when you've removed enough metal. You'll see a couple of my numbers didn't turn out completely clear, but it's good enough.
That looks good to me. The 2 looks a little light, but that could easily be the camera angle.
Great job!
Great job!
It did turn out a bit light, as did the 3, but it will get the job done.
wsmith1625
Well-Known Member
Etched my kettle last night. I used the 1/4 cup vinegar and 1/4 teaspoon salt ratio and it didn't work. Bumped up the salt to 1 tablespoon and then it worked fine. Also used a 9 volt battery, some brake light wires from my trailer, and lots of black electrical tape. I'm happy with the results. The 10 is a little messed up, but good enough.
SalParadise
Active Member
Completed mine this morning. Found directions elsewhere, and didn't read the entire thread here, so I'm sure some of my observations have probably already been noted. Used a 9 volt battery and a fairly heavy salt to vinegar solution (sorry, didn't measure, just kept adding salt until my test piece worked well). I found that with a 9 volt battery and an aligator clip I had the best results when the clip holding the q-tip was nearly touching the kettle. The closer I got it, the better it worked. Also discovered when it was working the best, I got some brown foam as I worked. Light pressure and keeping the tip moving in small circular motions seems to have done a decent job of etching the kettle. Pretty happy with the results, especially considering this is my first time trying this.
I posted on this thread quite a while back. If you use an AC supply ( 120 to 12 volts) you get nice black marks. The low voltage can't hurt you (actually it's the low amperage). I have a small transformer that plugs into the wall receptacle. I used the leads from an old multimeter. I put an alligator clip on one probe and the tip from a Q-tip on the other.
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