Etch problem

L

ldoyle

Joined
Jun 29, 2010
Messages
59
I use the Personalizer to etch with and on a stainless blade I get a good deep, dark etch but my last two carbon blades are just barely etched into blade and not dark at all . I use the same bottle of solution on both stainless and carbon ( mostly stainless ) but I`m beginning to think they are not supposed to be etched with the same solution . What should be used on carbon ,if it is not the same ? Thanks
 
I use saltwater... But I have a homemade etcher from instructions on here.... It leaves a nice deep etch.
 
I do almost all stainless steel these days but I suggest you do some test on a carbon steel blade of the same kind. I use the personalizer too.

I have used the bottled stuff & a home brew of table salt and 50/50 apple vinegar & water on carbon steel/Damascus in the past with great results

Without being there ir oics its hard to help trouble shoot the problem? When was the last time you put a fresh pad on the wand?
 
I will make up some salt , vinegar and water and try it . I see it says 50/50 vinegar and water but how much salt is needed ? I don`t put a new pad on every time , but always find a fresh part to use . Maybe I should use a new pad each time . I think I had different solutions for stainless and carbon when I bought the personalizer , but when I got new solution a while back , there was just one bottle offered . I just assumed it was for all steel , but maybe it`s not .
 
I also built the Bladeforum/Radio Shack etching device. I need to clean the brass plate under the felt regularly. I'm thinking the Personalizer is similar. If that's the problem, a little 320 grit scratching will clean it up.

'cacci
 
An easy rule of thumb is a half shot glass of water and one packet of salt. Salt works great, not as well as #94, but it does work and gives a nice etch on about anything. Just a note, 110a will NOT darken on stainless.
 
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