Nitric acid – Works well on most metals. Mix it with water at a rate of 1 part acid per 3 parts water. Or it can be mixed at a 1:1 ratio with acetic acid (vinegar). Sulfuric acid – Works well on most metals.
- Ferric chloride is mixed with water in an one to one ratio, and this will form hydrochloric acid in solution.
- Hydrochloric acid is commonly used to etch copper, and it also works well on stainless steel. ...
- Copper sulfate is used to etch mild steels rather than stainless steel.
Can you etch copper with vinegar?
Yes, vinegar! Vinegar is somewhat slow compared to strong acids like ferric chloride or muriatic (hydrochloric) acid, but its much safer and less hazardous, and there's an easy way to speed it up. ... Yes, it's also an acid and will react with copper, but slower (it's also much more diluted than ferric or muriatic).Dec 15, 2012