Etched Clock Dial

Some time ago someone posted details of a rather handsome regulator clock with an etched dial. The thread gave a detailed description of making the dial, but despite much searching I have been unable to retrieve it. Can anyone help?

Clickspring has a video of his etching technique if that helps

**LINK**

regards Martin

Thanks Martin. Very useful video, which seems to give all the needed info.

I would still like to find the forum thread I referred to though.

Mike

So would I, perhaps you could tell me when you find it )

Found it!

It’s in a 2013 post entitled “John Wilding Regulator” by Russell Eberhardt. The details of etching the dial are on the 3rd page of the thread.

Here's a direct link.

**LINK**

I'm afraid that I cheated on the clockface for my version. The company I worked for had just installed a cnc machining centre and I was friendly with the operator.

I drew up the face and asked him if the machine would cope with the engraving and he agreed to try it if I had the artwork.

I drew it up on a cad program and this is the result; I aquired the tools for making the case but I was so pleased with how the clock turned out that I had one made by a cabinetmaker in Derbyshire. (Another cheat)

Edited By Brian H on 06/02/2019 13:17:50

Very nice job Brian.

Unfortunately I don’t have access to cnc, so I’m probably going down the etching route. Since I need a large dial the cost of brass sheet is non-trivial, and I have been wondering whether it would be feasible to use copper clad circuit board. The copper layer on circuit board is quite thin, about 1.8 thou on the common 1oz board or double on the less common 2 oz board, so my main concern is whether there would be enough depth for wax filling. I probably need to do some tests.

Sounds like you have made PCB's in the past. My comment would be that if the mask is in any way defective you are going to get etch through on the non etched areas if that makes sense, which will pick up what ever you are using as a filler and look horrible. The only way you will rid yourself of the marks is abrasive and with that thickness of foil it's probably going to be touch and go. As like you I'm not convinced that the depth is going to work with the filling either and I don't know how well silvering salts work on pure copper.

However, that said, PCB material does suggest itself as a cheap way to experiment with the mask, resist and etch processes before you comit to brass sheet. When all is said and done you do have 2 sides to a sheet so 2 chances to get it right on brass.

regards Martin

Only two chances? I would have thought the duff etching could be cleaned off with some abrasive and a flat surface? Or am I too hopefull?

NDIY Depends how deep the etching I engraved mine on the lathe as per either Wilding or Timmins I can,t remeber which

Roy