Etching Blades

[colu41]

I was wondering for those of you who do this. I would like to etch the type of steel on to all of my blades and also maybe a logo. Is there an efficient way of doing this? Stencils?
I'm not sure how people can put such small print on there without cutting it out of a sticker or something by hand.

 

[canid]

You can try the inkjet toner transfer method used by many for home PCB fabrication to mask an etch resist (you can even use glossy paper from junk mail instead of photo paper or the like). You can have stencils made for you by any of several online companies and perhaps a few members here. There are at least a few options.

My laziest method is just to lay down a resist like wax or nail polish onto the blade surface and hand scrape it away where I would like the etchant to bite. In David Boye's book he recommends using a mix of wax and asphaltum (I think a kind of coal tar, to give the wax som stickiness). Probably a good idea as I've had trouble with parafin lifting/breaking while moving the etching pad around during electro-etching.

 

[Black Lab]

I just finished making my first knife. On it, I etched a Makers Mark (electro etch) that I document how I did it, step-by-step.

Here is a link to the thread that I posted that "How To" information in.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...y-First-Knife-An-Ulu-Knife-(Story-and-Photos)

B.

 

[colu41]

I saw a few people get vinyl stickers, then nail polish over them to make the layout for the etch. I may do that. Thanks