How To Cleaning process after you etched the damascus steel?

R

Recessiveriver

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Jun 16, 2017
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What do you use and how?
I know there's different ways for different persons, I would like to know how you guys do it

I am new to damascus knife, I use ferric acid, i found the steel dirty after etching,
what should I do to clean the surface of it?
I have acetone, windex, any suggestion?

Thanks
 
I sand it again with 1200 grit sand paper and a hard backer.
 
Windex. Have also used simple green and a bunch of water. Ammonia also works. So does baking soda, in a pinch. If you got nothing else, dish detergent and lots of water. Acetone won't do what you need.

All you are really trying to do is remove or neutralize the acid. The detergents (simple green, dish soap) contain an alkali, so tend to bond to the acid, and when combined with a generous about of water seem to work well.

Windex contains ammonia (at least the blue stuff), Ammonia is a weak base and will neutralize the acid. Baking soda does the same, though is abrasive, so it may remove more of the oxidation than you want.

As to what to do after the acid has been removed or neutralized, I would recommend playing with various abrasives: steel wool, polishing compounds, 3m pads, etc. and finding out what works best for your specific application. On satin finishes, I like 3m pads. On higher polishes, I prefer a high grit wet paper and/or polishing compound (mothers mag polish is my favorite for hand application.
 
Windex then Flitz. if you want to do the 1500-200 grit paper with the hard backing, you can use Windex as a "lubricant" and kill two birds with one stone.
 
Boiling in a baking soda solution does a good job of "setting " the etch. Anything after that must be done very carefully so as not to damage the etching
 
I like a deep etch and then once I see I have that, I will wash and wipe the item with paper towels - just water - nothing added,then soak in a strong solution of backing soda and water for a few hours, then buff it I want the natural steel to show. If I wish to get the carbon steel item to stay black I very carefully move the item from the ferric chloride and submerge in a strong solution of baking soda and water. After being left overnight I remove the item and wipe with paper towels. I then cover with a fine oil to help further set the color.
Frank
 
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if i use windex, do you spray it on the item to wash it or need to soak it with windex?

can I repeat use the windex or it is just for one time only.
 
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