Damascus dust

[iasg]

Hi! Hope this is the right place to post?
My last two damascus blades have turned out fine but in going from Ferric to mixture/bath of bakign soda, to dry and heat with wax, i'm wiping off so much black dust and cannot figure out why? this is probably a dumb question as I very much neophyte. Any thought would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[weo]

The black is iron oxides from the acid bath. Totally normal and HS chemistry will explain the chemical reaction.
A number of makers will wait for a day before cleaning off the blade after the final etch in an effort to keep as much of the black on the blade as possible.

 

[iasg]

Thank you sir. Very helpful

 

[Taz]

One place recommends spraying with WD40 and letting sit for 24 hours. Other people coat in mineral oil and bake it in a 200 degree oven to help the oxides "set". Heating with a heat gun may have the same effect?

 

[iasg]

One place recommends spraying with WD40 and letting sit for 24 hours. Other people coat in mineral oil and bake it in a 200 degree oven to help the oxides "set". Heating with a heat gun may have the same effect?

Thanks. I use a heat gun straight away and apply past wax get that residue.
Emailed a fellow contributor and "baked" it. That worked nicely. Appreciate that comments.

On the one hand, coming to this forum and asking my questions feels lazy as i could do my own research but being so new to this craft, I find i do not have the right questions...

 

[DevinT]

I always thought it was carbon/graphite on the surface because mild steel doesn’t turn black.

Hoss