It is important to take certain precautions in order to work safely with the electro etching technique and its various applications.
REMEMBER
• Avoid inhaling sulphate powders and avoid contact with the skin and eyes. Wear a dust mask and rubber gloves when handling the sulphates to prepare the electrolyte until they have been diluted in water.
• Always wear waterproof gloves when your hands have to come into contact with electrolytic solutions and wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from accidental splashing, otherwise handle the electrolyte with care. If your hands or other skin accidentally come into contact with the solution, wash thoroughly with water and, if you splash your eyes, rinse with plenty of water or saline solution and seek medical attention.
• If you have to store the electrolytes, do it in clearly labelled plastic containers with plastic caps, in a safe place out of the reach of children.
• Use the correct electrolyte for each plate.
• Before connecting the power supply, check that all electrical connections have been made correctly.
• Remember that in electricity, generally the red terminal of a power supply is the positive pole (+) and the black terminal is the negative (-) (the colours of the terminals may differ from these).
• The terminals of the power supply have to be joined to the electrodes with screws or crocodile clips. The connections of the cathode’s contact-strips must be made with the same metal, soldered to the plate and given two layers of resist to protect them from the electrolytic bath.
• When the plate is ready for etching, place it in the electrolytic bath, then connect the power supply and monitor the voltage to ensure that it remains within the desired range.
• Etch with low voltage. If we use a voltage as high as 10 volts to etch, the conductive solution generates hydrogen at the cathode and oxygen at the anode. It is possible for the hydrogen and oxygen gases to combine and explode on contact with a single spark, such as is caused by a switch. Avoid their formation by maintaining the voltage sufficiently low so as to prevent these gases being generated.