NITRIC ACID *

In general, nitric acid is available at 50 - 52%. This concentration is much too strong for etching and must be diluted, in the following proportions for example:
20% for linear work
10% for more delicate work, such as aquatint
To obtain 10% :
1 liter of 50% contains 500ml pure acid and 500ml water.
10% equals 100ml acid and 900ml water.
100ml pure acid is the equivalent of 200ml of product purchased, so 200ml (of 50%) added to 800ml water brings us to 10%.
Do not forget that you must always add acid to water in small quantities.

IRON CHLORIDE*

This product is considered ideal for etching. It gives a dependable, even result, and does not develop irritating gas. It etches on zinc, copper, and brass. During the procedure, one must survey that the liquid remains in motion. Caution : it can leave rust stains on cloth.
One mixes iron chloride and water in equal proportions, 1 : 1, or one jar of iron chloride balls to 1 liter of water.
After 5 seconds, the plate will reveal the drawing in pale gray. One can prolong, from this moment on, the etching lasts 1 or 2 minutes. After 7 to 9 minutes, darker tones are obtained, and after some 15 minutes, subtle aquatint tones.

COPPER SULPHATE*

Blue crystals or blue crystalline granules or powder. Soluble in water. Do not forget that you must always add acid to water in small quantities. A copper sulphate solution is only used for zinc plates. The process is slower than etching in nitric acid.

AEROMETER (acid scale)

The ideal instrument to verify acid concentration. The aerometer works vertically floating freely in a tube filled with the acid (20·).

GRADUATED GLASS

To measure precisely liquides we offer a graduated glass (acid resistant).

JERRICAN

To stock your biting liquids after a first use we add to our range a 10 liter jerrican absolutely acid resistant.

ROSIN POWDER

Since the essor of the aquatint in recent years, the range of products would not be complete without powdered rosin.

CARBORUNDUM GRIT

Silicone carbide

The carborundum technique is not really an etching technique because the plate is charged with material instead of engraved.

A grain is applied on the plate with a varnish or glue (the design). The plate should be sufficiently solid to receive the pressure of the press and to allow the cleaning after the print but is not necessarily a metal plate (plastic, certain cardboards, etc. can do the job).

The glue can be a varnish, epoxy or other rosin based product that can be applied with a brush.

PHOTOPOLYMERE PLATES

ZINC ETCHING PLATES

Simple zinc plates, 0.8 mm thick.
Working side supplied with a protective cover sheet.

MEZZO TINT PLATES COPPER

Three different sizes of pretreated plates are available for mezzotint technique.

COPPER PLATES

Copper plate, 0.1mm thick, easy to etch. Supplied with a protective cover sheet.

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ALUMINIUM

Certain engravers opt for aluminium plates for their work. The biting (acids and bases can be used both) is not very satisfactory. On the contrary, the soft caracter of this metal alows to obtain certain effects and textures one can not realise on harder metals. The maximum number of prints is about 15-20.

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PLASTIC SHEETS

Transparent plastic sheets, 0.5mm thick. Excellent for dry-point.

TARLETAN

GRESTO

Gresto is a rectangular abrasive block (8 x 5 x 2cm) that cleans, polishes, smooths, or causes copper and zinc plates to become matte, but it can also be used on such materials as wood, ceramic, and stone.
Adding water, soap, or a turpentine-based product strengthens its effects.

CHARCOAL

Wood charcoal in blocks of 7 x 3.5 x 3cm

BLANC DE MEUDON

To degrease plates, etc.