Etching a logo on an etched blade?

[Jason Fry]

I've got an electric etcher and stencil that I use to apply my logo. I'm working on a couple of blades with hamons, that I'll take up to 1000 or 1500 grit, then etch in ferric chloride. At what point should I apply my logo? Is it better to etch it on the bare steel, then do the FC etch, or better to apply the logo over the FC etch?

Thanks,
Jason

 

[12345678910]

I really like the results Bruce Bump has achieved.

His logo is enclosed by an oval.

He etches his logo after the polish, then paints a resist (like fingernail polish) on the area of the logo, then etches the whole blade.


It gives a nice logo in a shiny spot that really stands out from the etched blade.

 

[Jason Fry]

Looks like his logo has a built in border that would make that approach easy. I'd have to fabricate a border for my resist. Anyone else have an opinion?

 

[Chris Meyer]

I would etch the logo first, clean up any fuzziness around it, then etch the entire blade. If the logo etch didn't darken the logo, I believe the second etch will take care of it. I think you will end up with a more uniform blade etch using this sequence.