damascus etch

T

The_cutting_edge

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May 25, 2009
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I just got my first 2 damascus knives back from Rob at knifemaker.ca and I'm about to start the finish work on them. my problem is Ive called every radioshack in town and none of them carry ferric chloride. is there anything else I can use to etch the damascus that might be easier to source?
please help.
 
I got a bunch at an electronics supply store. They still have it for sale in a lot of these places. Frank.
 
You can order ferric chloride in powder form online. I would expect a pound to run about $30 shipped to Canada.

Vinegar can work but it won't give you the dark colors and deep etch. If you mix vinegar and salt (NaCl) you make weak hydrochloric acid, which should work better.

Edit- It turns out I used all of my vinegar to pickle copper the other week, if you have some cut offs I would give the vinegar and salt mix a try.
 
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I got my ferric chloride from Tip Top Electronics in Winnipeg, I think it was something like $13 for 1L. Unfortunately I couldn't take it with me when I moved so I had to dispose of it. there has to be some sort of electronics store in Edmonton.
 
Well since I don't have time on this knife to wait for fcl from eBay or wherever. Im using vinegar. It's working but how long should I leave it pickling? I had it in for about an hour lastnight before bed. when I took it out and gave it a wipe most of the black came off and left it looking kinda streaky. This morning I scrubbed it with a scotch brite pad and got most of the streaks off then de greased again and now it's back in the vinegar.
 
Muratic acid works fine, just have to do it outside and be sure whatever you use to neautralize it with amonia.
 
I get great etches with Muratic Acid. I leave the blade in for five minutes, take out and sand with 600 grit under water, then back in the acid. After five cycles the blade should be properly etched. As Dan said be sure to do this outside, don't breath the fumes, and neutralize. I use Windex to neutralize. I end up by using cold blueing on the blade.
 
thanks for the advice guys. this knife is done now (see thread "Damascus and Redwood burl") I used warm vinegar took about 3 hours to get a decent etch but I prefer a more subtle etch anyway. will try muratic on the second blade
 
Just a late note on this, but if you call a Radio Shack ( or other electronics store) and ask if they carry Ferric chloride, they often say ,"No". Ask if they carry printed circuit board etchant, and they say, "Yes". Many of the sales people don't know they are the same thing.
 
bladsmth said:
Just a late note on this, but if you call a Radio Shack ( or other electronics store) and ask if they carry Ferric chloride, they often say ,"No". Ask if they carry printed circuit board etchant, and they say, "Yes". Many of the sales people don't know they are the same thing.
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Yep, years ago when I first started, I called RS and asked for Ferric. they said NO. Stopped in the a few days later and they had 6 bottles on the self. Believe it was called Archers Etchant back then.

I've tried just about everything to etch and like ferric chloride best, By Far!
 
so I'm about to finish the second in the pair of damascus knives. I was just wondering is a nice 500 grit machine finish good enough before etch or should I hand sand it to 400 or 500 grit as well? I noticed that the nice hand rubbed satin finish I put on the first one is un noticeable so does it matter as long as there are no deep scratches?
 
if you have acess to sulfuric acid, make a 8% solution with water.I use a 2 inch plastic pipe to store it in. It etches better if you put a small electric heater behing to warm ut solution to about a 120 or 30 degrees farinhiedt. It will take about an hour to get a good etch. I have used this for etching about 10 years and it works good for me. You do have to be careful though. also never add water to the acid or you will be in big trouble. always add the acid to the water and not the other way around. you can save this solution and etch 20 to 30 blades before you might have to add a little acid
 
Leroy,
You have no profile or way to contact you other than on a post, so I am stepping in as moderator here to suggest you use "Spell Check" and re-read your posts before hitting "Post Reply".

From a chemist POV, Iron reacts better in chloride solutions than sulfur solutions. Also, FC is far safer to use.
 
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