On 12 May 2024 at 16:40 John Haine Said:

Mike, we wouldn’t mind a few sheets for my wife’s etching.

I’m in the US.

The artist supply store told me, I think, $17US for 16 gauge 12″x12″…which seems pretty low to me.  They said they bought a lot of it, but it never sold.  They have copper too, but that’s way overpriced.

I may pick up a sheet of the zinc and have a go at plating…I have some bolts on my old car that could use re-plating.

On 13 May 2024 at 09:18 John Haine Said:

That’s a good price.  T N Lawrence, one of the main printmaking suppliers over here, would charge about £50 for an equivalent size, or say $60.  That is with one side coated with acid resist through which the artist scratches lines to make a drawing.  Not surprising that a retail store wouldn’t sell much as the process is complicated and needs lots of space and specialist equipment such as acid baths and an expensive press.  Over here most people seem to use shared workshops.

I picked up a piece of this today.  They supply to artists and art students for the several very close by universities.  They said it didn’t sell because it just didn’t work well compared to copper.  Yeah, but copper is very pricey.  Maybe zinc requires different chemicals.

I see what you mean about one side being coated with acid resist.  It’s a tan-orange color, which looks like I can sand or torch off.

Oh, and I asked…they weren’t interested in doing international orders.  The shipping would have been a wopper, anyway.