Etching a hamon issues

R

Robert L Sr

Joined
Jul 9, 2015
Messages
125
I made a small knife for my wife from 1095 and the blade turned out well. I even managed a half decent hamon. However, when I tried an acid etch in vinegar, it appears that little bubbles formed on the steel and prevented those tiny spots from etching. How do you guys avoid this?
Thanks
 
First to thoughts are that you might not have cleaned the blade well enough. How long did you leave it in the etch? and second it may be some form of over heated steel showing up.

Just what I thought,
DR....
 
I suppose it is possible the blade might not have been clean enough but I did sand it out clean it and try again. I am not sure about the overheated steel as the pattern is random and on both sides of the hamon. I left it in the etch about 40 minutes. The etch looks nice just little dots that appear unetched.
 
First thing, you need to remove all the decarb layer (not the scale alone, also the invisible actual decarburation) and cleaning the blade with alchool...after that don't touch the blade with your finger.
 
stezann was on the track I though of. How much have you removed after HT and before etching.

When the blade is out of HT, you sand it all the way down to smooth bare metal. If not, the spots of decarb, and etching from the sodium silicate in the clay if you used Rutland's or similar, will make blotches, islands, and spots. I know when the right amount is removed, because first the hamon disappears and then is starts showing back up after all the decarb is removed. It should then be finish sanded to over 400 grit and the last thing done is the etch.

In any etch, start with a surgically clean blade. During the etch, the blade should be removed regularly, wiped off, inspected, rinsed off, and returned.
 
Robert, if the "bubbles" are what I am thinking you have, as mentioned clean the blade very well, but try adding a touch of dish soap to your vinegar. May help.
 
Thanks formthe tips and info. I am not sure she is going to let me have the knife back so I guess I will have to make another to see where I went wrong.
 
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