To etch or not to etch ...

[Judi_B]

I'm having a hard time deciding whether to etch these. In each pic the bead on the string has been etched for 3 min in fresh Etch All. What do you think?
Etch? Don't etch? Etch 'em some more? :confused:

Sunny Mango
80196

Peach Persimmon
80198

Black Cherry Nuggets
80197

[dragon myst]

For my 2 cents worth I would not etch . They are beautiful !

[daisydog7]

I wouldn't etch either. They look great just the way they are, so you would save time by not etching.

[Peach Blossom Beads]

Don't etch them (cuz they're too pretty!) but offer that you'll etch them - put it in your listing if you're on ebay, for example. Also, show the pic of the etched bead with the offer - just be sure to say it's not included if it isn't.

[Judi_B]

Thank you guys! You made my day! These were fun to make. I'm not on ebay yet, so these will go up on my web site for now. Offering the option to have them etched sounds good. Thanks taramag.

[Teague]

I like 'um etched.

Teague

[playswithfire104]

I say etch em!

[flamemoth]

For what its worth I think the top set would etch beautifully, it would soften the color and show the striations even more. Just sacrifice one little one :)

[Kevan]

I don't buy into the "too pretty to etch" concept.

I bet Amber doesn't either. lol

When in doubt, etch!

[WeeMary]

I say etch the first set, but not the others.

[*Naos*]

These are organic and etching helps bring out the design...reduces glare when you photograph...I say etch since they're nice opaque organics and it doesn't seem to change the design at all. :D

Kevan has me nailed down. LOL

[melzip]

They look like perfect candidates for etching! Do it!! :grin:

[Karen Leonardo]

We are coming into fall sales...etch them...fall is more organic and I know lots of customers that have a hard time finding etched beads....giving the opton is okay but they never seem to ask...it is all sight....

[UndertheSun]

Etch them!

[Judi_B]

Thank you for all the comments and suggestions! I can't seem to keep my hands off the Black Cherry and Peach Persimmon test beads that I etched - such a nice silky feeling. So the rest of those will get a bath tomorrow. The Sunny Mango test bead looks kinda funny to me, so I'll try another test bead.

Some questions about etching - My Etch All is about a year old, but had not been opened until yesterday. Its kind of a yucky brown color. Is that normal? It still seems to etch well. I etched for 3 min - does that sound right? Can you tell I've never done this before? :grin:

[*Naos*]

Judi - Brown is normal after sitting for some time. Etch no less than 5 minutes IMO.

[Judi_B]

Thanks Amber. I'll do some more test beads tomorrow and etch a bit longer.

[Flame Crazy]

I say etch the first set. Not the rest though!

-- cherine

[Lara]

I like the third set etched the others I like unetched. However, I really do like etched coral, so the first set would not look horrible etched. :)

[jaci]

you can do it.........




you can do it all night long!!!!!!!!!!

etch em all!!!!
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[lunamoonshadow]

Personally I HATE it when pretty beads are already etched. :(
I love it when there's an option. I love the photos with the one etched!! That rocks in my opinion as a jewelry designer--my "issue" with etched is that when you put it next to silver or metal *anything* if it rubs at all, you've got marks on the bead--so it's got to be designed around differently....which for me means "etched" can only go in necklaces (no bracelets, they get too much wear/tear), so a lot of times I ooh, ahh, & skip over etched beads unless it's something I want for use as a pendant, or perhaps a simple set of earrings.
Not sure if other people have the same issue with it I do or not ;)

Oh...and those sets? OMG, GORGEOUS!!!

(and, does anyone know how to get sterling marks & "dirt" marks OFF an etched bead? I ruined a lovely bead that I was gifted when I put it on a bangle for myself :( & I've tried to clean it & nothing seems to fix it....sigh...it's such a pretty bead, I'd love to be able to put it "not on a bracelet" & wear it again....sigh....)

[jaci]

etch it again....should work....*not too long*
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[ammaws]

Or even a little comet cleaner. Can't hurt the bead. Etch again is a good idea too.

[ez2remember]

You should really etch the first set....sunny mango. I (and my daughter who insisted I reply to this) both think this set looks fantastic etched!

edz