Does stainless steel need a heat treat to be rust resistant?

[weo]

Also try better neutralization of the acid

Not trying to hijack this thread, in fact, may back up the Count's comment. I've only recently (within the past 6 months) started playing with Damascus, and have never had any issues with rust in my shop (I live on the wet side of the Cascade range, btw) until I brought a bottle of PCB etchant into the shop. I now notice rust on almost all my hammers, anvils and tools if I'm away from the shop for any length of time, which has been a lot these days.

Anyone else have issues with this? And if so, what are some recommendations for storing the etchant so as to avoid the oxidation of everything....

 

[CUTS LIKE A KRIS]

Weo- had a "friend" my wife invited to stay with us decide one night she was going to flip my shop table, and threw everything off in the process. My enchants as well- now everything in the shop seems to have grown that nice brick red color........ I had noticed it happening around the area on my table when I first played with Damascus, so got a bigger Tupperware container for the etchants, and used TSP on the table after and etching, once the enchants were removed. Seemed to work at the time.