Etching

A

Astrodada

Joined
Sep 9, 2005
Messages
1,201
I have tried lemon etch on my khuk with unsatisfactory results.

Blotchy....used a too juicy lemon maybe. :o

But what is this etching thing ? To me is like a microscopic rust on the blade to make the hamon stands out ? :confused:
 
Astrodada, did you make sure and clean the blade 110% of all oils? Do not even touch the blade with your bare hands, lest you put body oils on it. I wash the blade with the hottest tap water and liquid dish soap, dry with a clean towel, and then wipe off with 99% IPA (NOT India Pale Ale ~ I drink that), or acetone. While the blade is still warm, you can immerse it in vinegar, or wipe it with lemon/lime juice, or use FeC. Ferric Chloride is much more aggressive than the other two items. The etching will show you how much of a blade is hardened, and it will help reveal the patterns in a blade that is of a laminated construction, or in one made of crucible steels such as woots.
 
Absolutely correct. Also, when the khukuri is polished, it smears the surface of the steel. It helps to sand lightly with some very fine sandpaper, like 1500 or 2000 grit, before you etch. It has been said that this "opens up the pores" of the steel, and lets the etchant work more evenly.

I use wet-or-dry silicon carbide sandpaper and lubricate the sandpaper with cheap window cleaner containing ammonia. The fluid keeps the sandpaper from clogging up with metal dust.

Steve
 
FeCl3 will etch pretty fast and pretty dark, although this still depends on concentration and temperature and time. Vinegar and the like will often give you a colorful patina, with blue and golden 'effects', depending on the light angle.

If you want an easy and dark finish (higher concentration, temperature and longer time = darker) use FeCl3. Dont get it on your hands or clothes though, it stains badly and it is hard or impossible to remove those stains.

Keno
 
I got pretty decent results quite accidentally by washing my 15" AK with dishsoap and then chopping up a whole fresh pineapple. :o
 
LOL...all good advice. I have also found that adding a drop of dishsoap in the vinegar helps...it breaks the surface tension of the vinegar and helps produce the most even etching.
 
Stevevo.....I might have got the blade cleaned....with rubbing alcohol.

Ferguson...no I didn't sand down with fine sand paper.....next time for sure.

Richardallen.......No FeCl3 here where I live.....But with Vinegar how dark can it get ?

Kazer....ar! the 'hawaiian etch' :)

Nasty......a half bottle of wine with or without vinegar breaks tension. :D
 
:D

ferric chloride is available --anywhere-- :eek:


http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3270941&postcount=28

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2421358&postcount=1

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=288365

the key is testing your dilution/concentration on a test blade first;
before dipping a prize into the solution.

otoh......many well-respected makers on bladeforums/shoptalk prefer vinegar with multiple treatments

:D
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