Etching a design on the blade

[AnxiousCowboy]

I just found a japanese knife sharpening blog where the guy running it also refinishes knives and makes custom handles as well, the same hobby I am currently getting myself into. He does great work and the etching on this knife really caught my eye
http://japaneseknifesharpening.blogspot.com/2010/10/hiromoto-gyuto-japaneseknifesharpening.html
I've seen tutorials and such on etching words on knives but not a random pattern like this. Is the pattern infact random or do you think he stenciled it? How would I etch like this? It's so clean looking...

 

[fast14riot]

That knife yo posted was done by Dave Martell. I asked him about it in another forum, here is what he had to say...

The knife is stainless clad over a carbon Aogami Super steel core. I first thinned the knife which caused more core to be exposed than normal. It was sanded to about 600x (scothbrite belt finish) and then etched with ferric chloride and vinegar mix. I believe I had to do it a second time to get the cladding to look even. The soak time was just a few minutes each time.

The two different steels is what gives the excellent color transition.

Check out the Maintenance and tinkering forum for a thread about forced patina.



-Xander