I don’t know whether to thank or yell at my Internet friends for automotive work. It is a shame that pictures just can’t do
Heartless and Codepunk for getting me hooked on the worked this technique justice......it must be viewed in the sunlight!!! The
metal / etched look. All I know is once I tried it for the first time; technique is quick, easy, inexpensive, and can be done on any
I haven’t been able to stop. I keep experimenting with it, trying clean metal surface. Give it a try, and see how many ways you
this or that, and have been able to work out the issues involved can work it into your next project. – Big D
For this project, I’m using a 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 foot sheet of metal (24 with lacquer thinner. Using a Dremmel tool with a carbon-steel
gauge). It is very important that you wear rubber gloves when brush (#442) I begin “brushing” the metal in a swirling pattern.
handling the bare metal! Until you have “sealed” the surface, The idea behind this technique is to almost let the Dremmel go
any oil from your skin will start rusting immediately. I constant- out of control, biting into the surface, creating random and over-
ly wipe the surface with lacquer thinner until I have the panel lapping swirl patterns. When done correctly, it will ruin the car-
sealed. For prep, I degrease the surface using Matrix MX 8000, bon steel brush in short order. I used one brush for this project.
scuff aggressively with a red Scotch-brite pad, and wipe down
I mask the panel with 7” vinyl transfer tape, tape using Auto Air Trans Black; then remove
and draw a rough sketch of my design with the fine-line tape. This leaves me the outline
a black Sharpie. I then use Scotch 1/8” fine for the image that I will cut out. I clean up the
line tape (#233) to mask the design. Once the tips, do a lot of careful cutting, and remove
design has been “fine-lined” I paint over the my outline.
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