One of the most common uses for acid etching is to create patterns on glass. Acid etching can create the same appearance as sandblasted glass. One of the major advantages of acid etching over sand blasting is that it can be done simply and without as many tools. A frosting effect can also be achieved using different strengths of acid etching compounds.
Perhaps you have seen suits of armor, towering shields or shining swords on display at a museum. Many of these armaments contain wonders decorative patterns and images on them. These were created by acid etching the metal. The piece was first coated in wax and then the pattern or illustration was carved into the wax. The piece would then be submerged into a bath of acid. All of the areas not covered by the wax would be burned and this is what creates the beautiful pattern.
Concrete can be acid etched to help in construction and refurbishing. An old concrete floor can be cleaned and then etched with acid to prepare the floor for a new coat of paint or epoxy sealer. This allows the material being spread over the concrete to adhere and stick for a much longer period of time.
Acid etching can also be used to create prints of an illustration. A sheet of metal is covered in wax, much in the same way artists would do for armor and swords, and the illustration would be drawing into the wax. The sheet is then placed in an acid bath that burns an indentation of the illustration into the metal. The wax is removed and then the sheet is covered with ink. The ink is wiped off so that only the ink remaining in the indentations remains. A sheet of paper is placed against the plate and pressed against the sheet firmly by a machine. This created an image on the paper.
There are many dangers associated with acid etching. Acid can cause a variety of chemical reactions when it comes into contact with material. Many of these reactions will produce toxic gas that can be fatal. Any sort of work with acid should be done with extreme caution in a well-ventilated area. It is also advisable to make sure that you are only using artist or craft grade acid and that it contains a sheet of instructions that list the chemicals it should never be mixed with.