DT Damascus care

pvicenzi

pvicenzi

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Dec 25, 2008
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My damascus user Sebenza is loosing it's lusterDoes anyone know of a way to spruce up DT damascus shy of re-etching with feric chloride? Also, should I chose to attempt to re-etch my blade, what will happen to the anodizing on the thumbstud?
 
I believe it would need to be re-etch and the good people at CRK would be the only ones I would consider (if they do re-etching).
 
By luster are you referring to the Gun-Kote or whatever finish they put on all their damascus blades or the actual blade metal itself? I know mine appear a bit faded at the point where I've worm through the finish and am actually abrading the black oxide itself.
 
It is getting a fadaed look The contrast between the shades is diminishing. It is starting to look like the blade has a single grey colred steel.
 
I think the only way to fix that is to redo the etch/coloring process. Give Heather a rattle and see what the pros say
 
Any pics to share...??? I have yet to see a damascus blade with wear on it resulting in discolor.
 
Here is a thread I started a couple years ago asking about the two different Devin Thomas Damascus, High Contrast and Stainless Steel. I did email them, but cant find it at the moment, if I still have it at all. It basically said that HC Damascus would be brighter and more vibrant, but is more prone to rust. This is why there is a varnish like coating on it. Its still usable by all means ( its just not for show ), but its not as resistant as the SS. The SS Damascus will be more grey in color and duller. SS does not have the varnish like coating. I have had both and can concur. I buy knives to use primarily, so always want the most durable.

Here is the old thread.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/894565-Devin-Thomas-Damascus-Questions
 
Don't try to re-etch a blade, it is more trouble than it's worth.

If you want to buff up the finish you can do it two ways, strop the whole blade on a bit of old jeans with some green paste, that is soft enough to polish down into the troughs as well as the peaks on the etch. This will brighten the whole blade up. You can also use some hight grit paper (I usually use 2500) and re-sand the peaks of the the pattern. You will need to use something hard and flat for this so you don't sand down in to the troughs of the pattern on the blade. I use a piece of Ti that was machined flat for this and either tightly wrap or glue the paper to that when I do the etching on damascus.

It will work with only a few passes with either method so don't be tempted to bash away at it for longer than you need to. :):thumbup:
 
Thanks Haze that sounds more like something I would try. The etching process sounds kind of nasty.
A cellphone pic. Damascus is difficult to photograph. Basically, it's starting to look like a nicely patinaed carbon blade.
 
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