This is a cold process that usually produces beautiful colors on titanium. Try it — if it doesn’t work for you, add the rest of the water and follow the normal instructions above.

Multi-Etch solution is crystal clear — it looks like water! All containers that are used to hold Multi-Etch should be marked as poison. Dispense into plastic containers marked as poison.

Do not store in glass containers! Provide positive ventilation, eye and skin protection!

Cold-Working Instructions

  1. Add one half gallon (8 cups or 1.89L) of water to the standard one gallon jug of Multi-Etch.
  2. Mix to dissolve. This may take a little while or let it stand overnight. It should all dissolve. Mark the jug so you don’t mix it up with regular-strength Multi-Etch.
  3. For best results, the titanium should be clean and oil free. Simple Green® works great. Suspend on a niobium wire — it will last much longer than titanium. The piece can also stand in the bottom of the container. Do not lay it down unless you plan to stay with it and brush the bubbles off.
  4. Although it seems to work well sitting still, the addition of a little vibration or stirring is a good idea. You can use a little aquarium air pump or even one of the new vibrating razors to add some energy to the process. A magnetic stirrer is excellent.
  5. Titanium grades 1 and 2 have tested well at 3–4 minutes at room temperature. Test your metals before you commit to the process.
  6. Rinse, wash of any smut and anodize immediately.

After Etching

Titanium can be rinsed and held in distilled water until you are ready to anodize. Titanium can also be anodized to a low voltage (5–10 volts) rinsed, dried and held to be anodized later at higher voltages.  This method locks the surface against air contamination and 3 to 6 months between voltage applications are possible.