Etching tank Rapid de Luxe, reviewing inner works on used tank.

[Spawn]

Like I mentioned in my early etch tank project, I decided to look for a good etching tank instead of the one I made, I didn’t like the idea having cables and hoses laying around while using my own tank.

I found a second hand Rapid de Luxe branded etching tank, it cost me little less than 50 euros including shipment. A new one is almost 205 Euros at Conrad: http://www.conrad.nl/ce/nl/product/530018/

If you want to buy this tank, see below and decide for yourself if it is worth it.

Tank was used with ferric chloride and this is recommended from the manufacturer, if you ask me I wouldn’t use this tank with ferric chloride, I will explain below why not . I think it is better to use sodium persulphate, but if you do so manufacturer recommends another bubbler stone made from ceramic, also sold separate at Conrad: http://www.conrad.nl/ce/nl/product/530034/

When I received the tank it was beaten up was almost yellow instead of gray, unfortunately I started to cleaning without taking pictures, after a hour scrubbing with a lot water the tank is almost like new again. The seller forgot to include the stones…

The ferric chloride was too aggressive and you could see that everywhere, like nylon screws to hold middle plate in the tank where dry out and broken. So I need to get some M4 nylon screws or cut it to M5 since I have those laying around somewhere.




Below a photo with all parts, there is a big pump with two outlets, 100W heating element and two switches to turn on the heating and the pump. The temperature meter is only for measuring and does not drive the heating element. Temperature meter was also not working so I cleaned its PCB with alcohol and it is working now. Wire of the little bulb for the power indicator was broken,  I will probably use a led for this.




As you see below, I need to rewire everything since it started to oxidize, they made nicely a separate compartment for the pump and other things but where not smart enough to use some silicone between the tank and this compartment.




Heating element had water in it and some parts where already oxidizing, so I need another heating element, but since I was busy with building a etching tank I got couple heating elements laying around, and one of those is 100W.
 

I need new stones and build everything back up, also need to use some silicone around the hoses and cable going in to the tank. Some parts are already glued back on proper way, like grinding two parts before using glue which the manufacturer didn’t do, like someone was in hurry while he was building this tank.

So what is my verdict on this tank? Is it worth to pay 205 euros?
I don’t think so, they can’t even mount a waterproof heater and some parts where glued out of line, like the holder of the heater and the knob on the lexan cover.

[kripton2035]

I bought the same as "defekt" because of small plastics broken (during shipping I presume) (nothing really bad)
I will follow your suggestions and put some silicon on it ... thanks
mine is new, and it has the sprays ...
but I agree with you it's really not worth 205 euros ... even 100 euros for some plastic...
if it was sold by dealextreme it would cost 30 euros ...

[Spawn]

Yes silicone will solve the problem in the pump department, and the heater they have used should be a different model with a fixed top on it, this is just a rubber insert and with the heat plus aggressive stuff, liquid will penetrate inside.

I also ordered two new switches, I seen some oxidize on the terminals and I guess there must be moisture in there. The newer models have one with light so I ordered switches with neon indicator, and I will disable the red light since the switches will be lighten when they are on.

The container self is quite good, the material is not same as normal storage bins, only the nylon screws and the heater is the weak point, oh and the glued parts if they took afford to sand them before gluing it would be a lot better.

[nctnico]

Better get or make screws from PVC. Nylon and ferric chloride don't go together.

[Spawn]

Yes Nico, i was thinking same, making a screw from PVC welding wire shouldn't be a problem. I am not planning to use Ferric Chloride but still.

[nctnico]

What etchant are you going to use? FeCl is the only etchant I know of that foams like a wild dog with rabies. *IF* you buy FeCl intended for foam etching. Regular FeCl usually contains an anti foaming agent.

[Spawn]

Sodium persulphate, but i need to order this for that: http://www.conrad.nl/ce/nl/product/530034/

The user manual recomend to use ceramic foamer for sodium persulphate: http://www.produktinfo.conrad.com/datenblaetter/525000-549999/530018-an-01-de-Schaumaetzgeraet.pdf