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Table
of traditional etching methods, their dangers, subsititute safe electrolytic
and electrochemical methods: Galv-etch and Galv-on, Bordeaux etch, ink-ground,
fractint, vegetable cleaning agent and other non-toxic ecologically safe
methods and materials. Extract from GREEN PRINTS
by Cedric Green published by Ecotech Design, Sheffield, UK. - a handbook
on new methods for non-toxic intaglio etching and metal plate printmaking,
featuring the technique of Galv-Etch, a modern development
of the 19th century electrolytic technique of Electro-Etching,
and introducing Fractint and other alternative
methods avoiding the use of solvents and chemicals harmful to health and
to the environment.
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| TRADITIONAL METHODS |
ILL EFFECTS AND DANGERS |
SUBSTITUTE METHODS
FOUND |
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Etching copper
plates:
nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, Dutch mordant, ferric chloride.
Etching zinc,
aluminium, steel plates:
nitric acid, ferric chloride. |
Nitrogen dioxide
poisoning damage to eyes, lungs, nasal membranes., skin damage.
See above |
Electrolytic
processes:
for all metal plates :
galv-etch and galv-on
'Bordeaux
etch' non-electrolytic substitute for etching zinc plates.
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Hard
and soft ground:
Smoked turpentine based wax and asphaltum grounds; turpentine based
wax and grease. |
Irritation
of mucous membranes, Nausea, headaches, toxic or carcinogenic fumes
when heated, depression of central nervous system. |
Insulating
ink ground:
relief printing ink applied by soft roller - after drying as hard
ground - before drying as soft ground. |
Aquatint:
powdered pine rosin; powdered asphaltum |
Rosin
dust allergy, toxic rosin fumes, carcinogenic asphaltum fumes.
Headaches, skin
and eye irritation. |
Fractint,
Salt aquatint : grounding with
relief printing ink, produced in press.
Sugar lift tint
- with ink ground |
Stopping
out:
Methanol (methylated spirit) based varnish. |
Methanol
- Headaches, skin and eye irritation. |
Ethanol
(ethyl alcohol) based varnish: shellac flakes dissolved in ethyl alcohol.
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Cleaning
of varnish or ground:
Methanol, turpentine, naptha (white spirit, turps substitute). |
Methanol - Headaches,
skin and eye irritation. .
White spirits, Turpentine - Irritation
of mucous membranes, depression of central nervous system, skin
damage; suspected kidney damage. |
Ethanol:
ethyl alcohol for cleaning varnish, ink ground or fractint.
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Cleaning
inked plates or tools:
turpentine, naptha (white spirit) |
White
spirits, Turpentine - Irritation
of mucous membranes, depression of central nervous system, skin damage;
suspected kidney damage. |
Vegetable coooking oil - followed by household detergent. Ethanol
for dried ink. Vinegar for hardened ink. Vaseline oil or baby oil for cleaning or protecting plates in storage. |
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