For etching on cutlery a ground wax is required, composed of equal parts of asphaltum, Burgundy pitch and beeswax, melted together, and thoroughly incorporated. In applying it, use a dabber, or ball of cotton covered with silk. Warm the piece of cutlery so that a stick of the wax will readily melt by touching. Smear a small quantity of the wax on the blade or articles, and dab it evenly all over the surface. When cold, scratch the required design or name on the surface, and touch the parts with acid, using a camel’s hair pencil to cover the surface and bring the acid into contact with all the lines. In a few minutes the biting is done.

Dip in to hot water to wash off the acid, and the surface may be cleaned by wiping with benzene. Another way is to make a varnish of asphalt and turpentine, with a few drops of linseed oil to make it tacky. Have a rubber stamp made of the required design, with a border, so as to stop off around the design.  Stamp the goods, and with some of the varnish, thinned down with turpentine, and a brush, stop off the surrounding parts; or surround the design with a small rim of beeswax, and apply the acid as above.

For etching brands and marks on polished steel surfaces, such as saws, knife blades and tolls, where there are many pieces to be done alike, procure a rubber stamp with the required design, made so that the letters and figures that are to be bitten by the acid shall be depressed in the stamp. Have a plain border around the design, large enough to allow a little border of common putty to be laid around the edge of the stamped design to receive the acid, for ink, use rosin, lard, oil, turpentine and lampblack.  To 4 lb. of rosin put one teaspoonful of lard oil; melt, and stir in a tablespoonful of lampblack; thoroughly mix, and add enough turpentine to make it of the consistency of printer’s ink. When the plate is stamped, place a little border of common putty around and on the edge of the stamped ground. Then pour within the border enough acid mixture to cover the figure, and let it stand a few moments, according to the depth required; then pour the acid off. Rinse the surface with clean water, take off the putty border, and clean off the ink with turpentine. Use care not to spill the acid over the polished part of the article. For the acid, 1 part nitric acid, 1 part hydrochloric acid, to 10 parts of water by measure. If the effervescence seems too active, add more water.