How do I chemically etch granite?

I have read that hydrofluoric acid will do the trick, but it is very dangerous to use. So, is there some other chemical that I can use to do anything to granite that I could use at my house?

3 Comments

Green
on February 6th, 2012

Nope.
All the chemicals available for this job are not available to the public without a users licence as they are extremely dangerous.

Any stone mason will do the job you need, and for small jobs there prices are not as expensive as people assume.

I get slabs of granite custom cut all the time and can get a job cut for as little as Ã‚Â£5 a sheet.
Style
on February 6th, 2012

This is not an easy question since rock is a mixture of minerals. Granite contains quartz, feldspar and accessory minerals like biotite and Muscovite (dark and white mica). In other words different chemical compositions and different structures.

Quartz (Si02) is the most acid-resistant, so even if you used a concentrated sulphuric acid, which should do for most of the other minerals, the quartz will still resist this.

You are quite right in not using hydrofluoric acid. This stuff is lethal and is only to be handled by professionals and then with extreme caution.

Sorry not to give a real answer. For the effect you are after it may be better to consult an expert but if you are determined to do this by yourself, concentrated sulphuric acid should do everything except the quartz. Test on a small area first!
pramod kamble
on July 31st, 2011

i want to granite etching chemicals please contcat no. and what name chemicals
where is shop in maharashatra in mumbai