Re: ATM ACID ETCHING OF GLASS

["John D. Upton" <upton@austin.ibm.com>]

Kurt,

At 10:22 AM 8/17/01 -0400, you wrote:
>I am curious to try a glass etching experiment using hydroflouric acid.  Yes
>I know the dangers and risks.  My experiment would use a very (?) dilute
>solution, 99.5% water and only 0.5% HF.  I am wondering if there are any
>chemists out there with any opinions as to how dangerous HF is diluted to
>this level, I am well aware of the dangers at higher concentrations.  Thank

     I am not a chemist, so I cannot give you an authoritative answer.  I 
can give you a data point that may or may not be of any use.

     In my local area, there are several large chains of hobby & crafts 
super-stores.  These hobby stores cater to all types of hobbies and 
crafts.  Each routinely stocks several different brands of glass etchants 
in the stained glass department of the store.  All contain HF in 
concentrations ranging from 0.25% to about 0.75%.  I was surprised that 
none carry any sort of dire warning label.  They only have the usual "don't 
drink it or get it in your eyes" type of warnings.

     Knowing what I have read about HF, I would be more careful than what 
the label warnings say, but would not be paranoid about buying and using 
these "over the counter" HF based etchants.

Sincerely,

John D. Upton
Georgetown, TX
<http://www.atm-workshop.com/>      "The ATM's Workshop Page"
<http://members.aol.com/RonWin20/>  "Ronchi For Windows Software Page"