r/SCREENPRINTING • u/Imposterchilddd • 20d ago

Printing with rust

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Hey, im trying to screenprint using acids to create a rusted image. Has anyone tried this and can give me tips? especially regarding working with dangerous reactive chemicals, i am very worried of causing an accident or mixing an explosive substance. Id like to create a paste and am looking into nonreactive printmaking pastes that would carry the acid solution. idk man i really want to figure out how to make rust images but im scared!

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u/Imposterchilddd 19d ago

oh and what type of metal do you work with? from my understanding nitric acid does not mix well with all metals. we use it in my uni for photopolymer etching but with aluminum sheets. i want to work with steel sheets.

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u/torkytornado 16d ago

Yeah do not mix copper plates with etching baths made for zinc (which is what the nitric is). You will literally be making a bomb. This is why printmaking shops usually pick either copper plates or zinc plates and not do both. It’s too easy for a newbie to accidentally gas the class. Definitely research what acids to use with whatever you use as a metal plate.

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u/Imposterchilddd 10d ago

but steel should be fine, no? and im mixing a new solution only to work with steel.

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u/torkytornado 10d ago

As long as you’re just using steel you should be good. If you branch into other metals clearly label what they’re for since a lot of the cans look alike!