How do you etch an egg?

Answer 1

Etching is a process used to remove parts of the egg shell with an acid to create raised areas, giving your egg a textured surface. Vinegar or The Works toilet cleaner are often used. Waxed areas are protected from the acid and thus stay intact, versus the exposed areas which are eaten away. The longer the egg is submersed in the acid, the deeper the etching effect. It is important to wash away the debris from your egg with a soft toothbrush and a little Ivory dish liquid. One problem many people run into is "How do you etch an egg without losing most of your pencilled design?" One simple solution to this is to just draw as little as needed before etching. For instance, if you want all your main divisions to be etched, just draw and etch them before going on to draw the elements that will be contained in them. Ie, don't draw every little thing, take time to think about your design before you start to draw and wax. Try to figure out what steps you will take. What colours do I want and where? What order should I dye them in? What do I want to stick out? Sometimes etching is done inadvertently. Those that dye out of dye sequence often remove colours with Ivory dish liquid need to prep their shell before the next dye with vinegar. If you are switching back and forth to different colours this way, you are etching the shell slightly with every vinegar dip.