ake one-half the fold and trace the remaining half by
placing a piece of double-surfaced carbon paper between the
halves. Fasten this design with a little paste on the copper at
two of its corners and trace it on the copper by means of the
carbon paper.

Remove the paper, and, with a small brush and black varnish or
asphaltum paint, cover the part not to be eaten by the acid of the
bath into which the metal is to be immersed. Two or three coats
will be necessary to withstand the acid. The conventional trees,
the border as shown in the illustration, and the back are covered
with the varnish or asphaltum.

The etching solution should be put in a stone vessel of some kind
and care should be taken not to allow it to get on the hands or
clothes. A stick should be used to handle the metal while it is in
the solution. This solution is made by putting in the stone jar
the following: Water a little more than one-half, nitric acid a
little less than one-half. DO NOT ADD THE WATER TO THE ACID. Leave
the metal in this solution three or four hours. The time will
depend upon the strength of the acid and the depth to which you
wish the etching to be done. An occasional examination of the
object will show when to take it out.

When the etching has been carried as far as desirable, take the
copper from the bath and remove the asphaltum by scraping it as
clean as possible, using an old case knife. After doing this, put
some of the solution, or pickle as it is called, in an old pan and
warm it over a flame. Put the metal in this hot liquid and swab it
with batting or cloth fastened to the end of a stick. Rinse in
clear water to stop the action of the acid. When clean, cut the
metal out from the center where the picture is to be placed, using
a metal saw.

Solder on the back several small clips with which to hold the
picture in place. There must also be a support soldered in place
to keep the frame upright. To further clean the metal before
soldering, use a solution in the proportion of one-half cup of lye
to 3 gal. water. Heat either the solution or the metal just before
using.

When soldering, care must be taken to have the parts to be
soldered thoroughly clean. Any grease or foreign matter will
prevent the solder from running properly. On a piece of slate
slab, heavy glass or other hard, nonabsorbent substance that is
clean, put a little water and grind a lump of borax around until
the resultant is like thin cream. Thoroughly c