Hydrochloric failure is not an option

Here is the stainless I attempted to etch with hydrochloric acid this weekend. I accidentally used the acid I had diluted for use in our pool, so nothing was etching. So I added the non-dilute acid and the etching began but the paint I had applied as a resist to the back bubbled off. Ooops. Ok, going to use that stainless as splint material under leather. Also, going to give to try and give the stainless steel a electric etch like I did with my first belt back in 2005. I'll also try the acid again with a better block out on back.