How do I etch aluminium using school supplies

Hello, Zoey!

Sorry, I'm in a bit of a rush now, but I'll find the answer for you later, if no one else here does before me.

In the meantime, why not talk to one of the art teachers at your school?

Sodium Hydroxide (Caustic Soda) will work.

Make up a solution with about 50% water and warm it up.

It will still leave a bit of a stain on aluminium but you won't get rid of that without a commercial echant.

Welcome to A2K zoey.

Calcium hydroxide = slacked lime in a thin paste with water is less damaging to human skin, but etches slower as does household ammonia = ammonium hydroxide which smells awful. You can get potassium hydroxide in water from dead and dying alkaline (the usual kind) batteries size AAA, AA C and D by making a hole near the edge of the bottom. Warm the battery if the juice comes out too slow. It is however as bad on skin as soda lye = caustic soda. Neil