Love the look of etched metal, but not crazy about the chemicals?
On the Bead Cruise, instructor
Tracy Stanley showed us how to use texturing plates to achieve an etched metal look without the chemicals! She simply taped the metal blank and texture plate down to her bench block and hammered away to impress the texture onto the metal. Pure genius! For mine, I used Vintaj altered blanks and sanded the surface to bring out the texture. Tracy showed examples using copper and then antiqued them in liver of sulfur. At first I thought her examples were etched metal, they were fantastic!
Brass texture plates are generally used for PMC and can be found at places like
PMC123.
Tracy is a fun and fearless teacher that encourages experimentation and creativity in her classes. If you have the chance I highly recommended signing up for one of
her upcoming classes at Bead & Button!
21 comments:
Tracy is awesome! I took her class at last years' Bead & Button and I am thinking of taking another. She sold me a small set of those texture plates and I bang the hell out of them all the time. But my samples are so small I have to watch banging the hell out of my fingers as well! Love the look. Will get them out again to play. Enjoy the day! Erin
hey now, that is cool!i have the floral one you have shown... am guessing the gauge would need to be on the thinner side... hmmm, off to try that now! thanks, heather...
Tracy really knows how to teach by the K.I.S.S method! Can't wait for her return to Chicago.
PS - Marie, we used 24ga sheet.
Thanks H eather- that looks great - have to give it a try - it sounds so much simpler than I could ever imagine.!! Vicki
That is so awesome! Wonder if the hard plastic plates would work if the metal gauge was fine enough. Will have to try it and see. The brass plates look great. Beauties in of themselves!
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this is soo cool
what are you going to make with them??
cn't wait to see
many thanks
tabby
This is a fantastic technique....must try...
Bead Happy!
Michelle
Oh, great idea! I'm really nervous about using chemicals and this sounds like a great way to get beautiful results. Thanks for the info and the link to the plates!
Hi Cindy - you really have to hammer the brass plates to leave a impression. I don't think the plastic ones would hold up to the force. But you would use the brass plates on clay. : )
What a great idea and post! Thanks so much!
Wow...that is great...I love texture but I do not like to use chemicals of any kind!!!
Will have to give this a try...
Cheers
What a fantastic idea! I really enjoy learning how to do things differently. Thanks!
This is brilliant! I'm definitely putting Tracy on my "wish list" of instructor!
Wow - this is great - I was looking at doing my first lot of etching this weekend - but this is also really appealing
Your mini tutorial is the next best thing to taking a class with Tracy (sure wish I could). This is a wonderful idea and I'd love to give it a try!
beautiful work. I love the technique and the idea of minimal/no chemicals is a definite plus. How inspiring!! thanks for sharing with us.
Ny
Very cool idea! Thanks for posting this.
Awesome job !!! keep it up.
Hello -
I am trying to use a mini rolling mill for the same effect, but getting frustrated quickly. This looks like a viable alternative.
Quick question: How long will the metal plates last before they are flattened beyond use?
Thanks!!
These design looks like an antique. With it's copper color you can determined the age of a this thing. You can reflect yourself in designing. It may help you to create a better one.
That was a great work. I am happy looking at your work. Nice post!
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