Etching line problem,, Help

[B . Buxton]

I sanded this blade to a mirror finish to grit 1500 sandpaper, then wiped down with acetone and washed with soap and water, then put it in a jar of ferric chloride mixed 1 part acid to 3 parts water, for 30 seconds,when it came out and I cleaned it up it was showing a lot of scale pattern in the riccasso area, so I sanded again starting with 320 and worked to 1500 and dipped it again, the blade looks fine but I can't get rid of the scale look in the riccasso area, What do I need to do to eliminate this scale look? By the way the steel is 52100 and its 3x quenched, also I sanded a great deal off after heat treat with belt sander to get to this point, the blade looked great with a mirror finish no scale or scratches showing anywhere.

Thanks for any help

Bill

 

[Galloglas]

Depending upon the strength, dilution, temperature, etc. sometimes it can etch so fast it actually eats the metal too much. Try diluting the acid more with distilled water or switch to warm vinegar.

Warm vinegar and a few drops of liquid dish soap mixed in to help it wet the surface works *really* well for accenting temper lines and it usually is not as harsh as ferric. I think it gives the whole line a more frosty appearance and has less tendancy to eat the steel to the point where it causes pits and stuff. Wipe it on with cotton swabs or heat up a pan of it and dip the blade 'till it turns black. Clean off the black oxide with Flitz or Simichrome and repeat as necessary.

Smells a whole lot better too.

Brian

 

[Bruce Bump]

Bill, I think you may have some decarb left on the ricasso area. You may have forged the blade at a bit too high temp and will need to grind it thinner in that area. If it looks good with a mirror finish I would shine it back to a mirror, you should still be able to see that sexy temper line. By the way, Nice blade.

 

[B . Buxton]

Thanks for the advise Brian and Bruce, I'll sand a little deeper and see if that will solve the problem with a vinegar bath.

Bill

 

[Ed Fowler]

I take the goo off of the blade using a loose musilen buffer loaded with Brownells 555 grey. Don't buff too much, just enough to remove the goo and reveal the crystalline nature of the steel. Always take the time to read what you see in the etch, this will leat you to higher levels of heartreating.

Stick With it