[TheForge] Etchant strength

[Roger R Degner]

Speaking of toxic
The headlines have been about the mercury contamination in the housing
development they have been cleaning up for at least a week and then
letting residents back only if they were wearing tyveck suits.  When I
was a child we used to play for hours with mercury and then eat
Grandma's fried chicken without washing hands ect.  

Maybe that explains why I behave how I do.

Roger R Degner



o problem.  

Copper and zinc (which are not part of any damascus I know of) are
mildly toxic and well diluted are not environmental hazards.  (They ARE
hazardous in concentration, though.)  

I doubt much chromium or nickel (from SS) would etch into the etchant,
but haven't looked into that so don't want to make a positive statement.
Chromium can be toxic; not sure about nickel.

Of course, lead is toxic.  Keep lead out of your etchant.