HELP! Gold foil and etching

[JABOKA]

I have a question. I have never etched anything with gold foil on the surface. I am sure I have seen it done but want to make sure. So, my question is will etching solution harm the gold foil??? Anyone???
Kris

[Janine]

I found this thread, and it seems to work just fine:

http://www.lampworketc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5308&highlight=etch+foil

[MaryBeth]

I etch beads with silver foil and wire on them all of the time and the silver stays shiny. I would think that a bead with exposed gold foil should be fine to etch.

[Renee]

I've etched beads with gold foil, and it works fine. Just don't forget about your beads in the etching solution, 'cause after a while, the solution will start to eat away at the gold. (I've done that, too ... )

[JABOKA]

Thanks so much eveyone! Renee, so funny you say that because I was just thinking that right before i read your response. I have a really bad habit of forgetting my beads in the solution..lol.
I really needed a positive answer to this. I am making some huge beads for a cake knife and server. It would have really sucked if all that foil disapeared! I was going to do a test today if i didn't get an answer so thanks. I am really looking forward to getting these beads finished and out of the way.
Kris

[earthandsky]

It'll be fine. And the "good" news is that if you burned the gold foil in places and it's an ugly gray, the etching solution will remove those parts and leave the pretty, shiny gold.