Lamps > Modern

Ink used for lamp etching.

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Vince:
What kind of ink do companies use to make etches on lamps? Is it a simple recipe, or something way too complex?

Thanks

Lumalux:
Hey Vince.

I'm not sure of the formulation for etches, but there is some variation in the etches' durability.

Some etches are almost like a liquid ink and very light.  Recent Philips lamps from Indonesia use an unusual dot matrix etch that is pretty light.  I'm not sure how durable they are.

I've noticed that most of the etches Sylvania uses are relatively permanent.  They will not come off the glass.

However, some of GEs are durable (older ceramic coated lamps, recent Survivor lamps, and Reveals made in China) and some wipe right off (most Soft Whites and other retail lamps).  GE seems to use the widest variety of different etches, with varying formulations for the markings.

Some etches are very dense meaning you can feel them with your fingers.

I've always liked dark etches that are permanent.  I've got a lot of ceramic colored lamps that were filthy when I bought them.  A good soaking in a solution made from Mr. Clean makes them like new.  Etches from the Marvel/Guaranteed brand are permanent and will survive this cleaning technique.

I've been disappointed many times when I've cleaned a lamp and etch comes off with the dirt.

Alex

Silverliner14B:
I heard the black etches used on general service household GE bulbs are nothing but water and charcoal. No wonder they come.off easily.

Adderall:
I'm not sure why they're called "etch". The only real etch I've seen are on blacklight-blue lamps, which is actually frosted/etched into glass.  

If its chemical, it is ammonium fluoride or hydrofluoric acid.  It could also be done mechanically by sandblasting through a template.  

Probably the easiest way to etch on a white lamp at home is to write on them with glass etch cream, then rub over with pencil lead.  It won't mark on smooth part, but will color in the frosted area

SeanB~1:
The black ink used on modern lines is a solvent based ink that uses MEK as a solvent to deliver the ink, printing being done with a continuous jet printer. The ink is quite durable on almost any surface except glass, where it only had a fair resistance to removal, but on a lamp base it is pretty much permanent. It is an expensive ink, but the amount used per lamp is nearly nothing, and it is not thrown away like in an inkjet printer, but is recycled. Nice printers, you can print on anything, even a raw egg yolk ( though you need an alternative ink that is edible for that).

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