Etching damascus

[sandspur]

I just made my first cable damascus knife and I am having trouble getting a good etch.the pattern is visable but it is very faint.I am using F.C. I bought at Radio Shack 1 part acid 4 parts water for 10 minutes.About all I have managed to do is turn my blade an ugly blue-grey.Could someone post the proper way to etch a blade? Many thanks,
Sandspur

 

[Ed Caffrey]

That ferric is a little weak, so the etching time could take much longer,my ferrice is 3 to 1 mix.
Here's how I would do it.........
1. Once your done at the grinder, hand sand with 400 grit until ALL the scratches are removed.
2. Clean the blade WELL, with acetone or the likes.
3. Ensure the ferric is slightly warm (70-90F)
4. Suspend the blade in the ferric for 15-20 min.
5. Take the blade out, and scrub the gunk off with #0000 steel wool. If the etch is not to your liking, repeat steps 2-4.
6. Once you have the topagraphy you desire, soak the blade is a saturated TSP solution for 10 min., then scrub it with the steel wool again in clean water.
7. Clean it once again with acetone, dry, and then oil.

Cable etches differently than pattern welded steels in that there are no variations in materials, what you see etched is the decarb between welds. The methodology you use when welding has much to do with how the finished blade looks.

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Ed Caffrey "The Montana Bladesmith"
ABS Mastersmith
www.caffreyknives.com

 

[Bruce Bump]

I do it like Ed but instead of tsp I use baking soda to neutralize the acid. Oil is a must to prevent rust that starts right away. Bruce

 

[Darrel Ralph]

May Want to take that finish up to a 600 grit .
Just works better for me.
The type of cable makes a big difference in the etch also.
There are several types.


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Web Site At www.darrelralph.com
Happy Holidays!

 

[Bruce Evans]

One other suggestion here is to back up the 600 grit with a stiff piece of leather or wood this keeps you only rubbing off the high spots and leaving color in the lows.Window cleaner with ammonia will neutralize the ferric chloride.
When I etch I like a long slow etch about 20 to 30 minutes then I spray it down with window cleaner,wash it in water then coat the wet blade in backing soda,Then with my fingers and the grit from the soda I wash the blade off ( a little water at first,while rubbing )then I stick it in a bucket of water and finish rubbing it down,after it is dried off I give it a quick light buff and then oil it...This is just what works for me.....
Bruce

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Bruce Evans Handcrafted Knives
The soul of the Knife begins in the Fire!!!!!
Member of,AKTI#A000223 and The American Bladesmith Society

 

[willOthewisp]

Q: Etch before or after heat treat? (Dumb question?)

Filling the info-ocean one drop at a time,
Jon

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Sometimes I get the idea that everything is ulterior ...

 

[Bruce Bump]

Etch after heat-treat. It is about the last thing done to the blade.

 

[DC KNIVES]

When I started doing Damascus,I called Jerry Fisk.He suggested that I use muratic acid with Windex as a stop agent.Also the temperature of the acid needs to be above 70 degrees.Good luck, Dave

 

[sandspur]

Thanks fellows, I re-etched the blade today with a stronger solution and heated the acid and the blade.I got a pretty nice pattern to show up.Thanks to everyone for the help.