Acid Etching

J

jsurgeson

Joined
Dec 6, 2000
Messages
3
Hi to everyone, I am new to knives in general and to this forum.
Could anyone tell me where I can get info on suitable acids and mixtures and techniques for acid etching on blades?
Thanks Jeff
 
Someone a while back mentioned that they used the stuff for PC boards. If thats that case, any Radio Shack will have the etching chemicals.....anyone recall this post?

Michael
 
the stuff your looking for is pcb ecthant you can get it at radio shack about 2.98 i mix it half and half with white vinigar imerse the blade for 30 min this gives my damascus blades a deep etch and if you want to use less toxic use just vinigar and put it in apot and boil the blade do this in ten minute increments until you get the desired etch
 
Thanks for the info guys...I tried etching once before..I used a mixture of nitric and sulphuric acid (royal water I believe its called)is this type of acid not used?.
I used a mixture of bee wax and bitumin as a block and then scribed into it? Am I on the right track? I like the idea of using PCB acid I think it is feric chloride.
 
You can either use PCB etchant (Ferric III Chloride) or sulfuric acid (30%).

Hot (boiling) sulfuric acid will etch the blade much faster (2..3 min) and deeper than the FeCl3, but it 's much more dangerous.

FeCl3 will take much longer (20..30 minutes), and even if you have a perfect clean (oil-free) surface there is the risc of a bad etch.

I used FeCl3 several times, but i will not use it again, because of the bad results i had sometimes.
 
Hmmm.....how do you get rid of acid or this PC board etchent when you are finished with it......? Obviously you just dont dump in in a garbage disposal......


Michael
 
I use 1 part FeCl diluted with 3 parts water for 10 minutes or so. The last blade I did (1095/1018/L6) etched real nice.

I neutralize with baking soda until it no longer reacts (fizzes.) You could use a litmus strip to check the pH, but I think the heavy rust color of the FeCl will hide the litmus reaction.

For disposal, I put it in a heavy plastic jug, and take it to the local household hazardous waste disposal facility. (If you're not sure, just check with your local Fire Department.)

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Glen AKA Centaur
"I'll be your Huckleberry."
- Doc Holiday

[This message has been edited by Centaur (edited 12-06-2000).]
 
Thanks for all the info on acid, however any ideas on proceedures. do you only use this for etching names/logos etc or have you tried it with a full blade picture etch?
What do you think of my use of beewax and bitumin?

Jeff
 
I think folks may be talking about 2 different kinds of etching here. One type is etching damascus blades to bring out the texture and the other if etching blades to create an illustration or design similiar in end effect to engraving.

For picture etching by all means get David Boye's book on knifemaking which has a very good section on this type of etching. The acids you need are different than those for damascus etching.

Be sure and follow the good advice here about disposing of harzardous chemicals in a resonsible way. The yellow pages will also have disposal sources. And always wear goggles ets when working with acids!



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