etching blades with acid

[Johnny Glades]

Hi all, can anyone tell me where I might find some info on the www. about etching blades with acid? Maybe someone here has the experience, and can clue me in on some methods. Thanks in advance.......................Johnny

 

[kile]

I beleive there is some info on www.engnath.com about etching with acid. Also Terry Primos has an article on how he gets the amazing temper lines on his blades at his website, or on the CKD. It is really a very easy process. IF you are talking about etching a design in the blade, like David Boye, I don't know where to find that info except in David Boye's book. Basically he just coats the blade in wax, scratches in his design, and etches in some kind of acid, I think he mixes sulpheric acid and something else if I remember right. You can also use a permanent marker or nail polish to resist the acid, and draw designs on you blade. Hope I was of some help.
Kyle Fuglesten

 

[Reg ELLERY]

If you just want to etch damascus blades. you can use a saturated copper sulphate solution. It is safer than Acid. Just dip the balde in for 15 min wipe of the mess in water dip again if not deep enough.

If you are talking about patterns try looking up some articals about photo etching of printed circuit boards. That process uses a negative and photo reactive coatings. If you made a template you could re use it.

 

[Mike Hull]

PCB Etchant, from Radio Shack is probably the most popular method. It is ferric chloride. Mixed 50/50 with water it will etch your blade fast. There are other dilutions that some find better, I'm sure others will be along shortly to fill you in.
BTW, welcome to BFC. Enjoy!

 

[Johnny Glades]

Thanks very much guys!

 

[RHINOKNIVES]

for damascus blades i use heinz apple vineger. i warm it up a little the put the blade in, you can do this in the kitchen sink, leave over night or till your happy and when your done you can pour it down the drain. i don't like using the ferric solution, nasty stuff! also don't use the acid in the shop were the fumes can get on other knives or stock material. i have a friend that wrecked two mirror polished blades that were near the open vat of acid.

 

[Steve Hayden]

Stainless damascus etches well in Muriatic acid (.375N HCl). Immerse for about 10 minutes then flush with water.
D2 will develop a gray anti-reflective surface in 5 to 10 minutes with muriatic. If left for 15 minutes, it will develop a wootz-like surface texture where you can see the coarse-grained fabric in the steel.