Ferric Chloride as rust inhibitor?

PocketEdge

PocketEdge

Joined
Dec 23, 2008
Messages
566
I have seen some nice looking Ferric Chloride etched blades over the years here on BF and I am curious to how much benefit it is to fight rust. I use a lot of O-1 tool steel and have found food and vinegar acid patinas create a pretty good rust defense. I got to wondering if ferric chloride would create an even better defense. Could some of you give me some of your experiences with carbon steel pcb etches?
 
I still get the rust and patina after using the Ferric Chloride to etch O-1; actually on anything that I have etched I have noticed no difference.

The only difference that I have noticed is that on higher polished blades I get less rust and patina. I believe that a knife should be taken care of meticulously so that no rust or patina shows ( but I hate rust and patina ).
 
I have found using Birchwood Casey cold blueing after etching will help prevent rust. Master bladesmith Charles Ochs taught a Damascus class in Washington AK which I attended in 1991. He used the cold bluing on his Damascus blades and since then I have used it on any blade I etched.
I have had a few blades rust on the cutting edge where the bluing is worn away, but I can't recall any rusting on the blued part. I try to keep oil on the blades the same way I would treat a blued gun barrel.
I also live in a low humidity part of the country and that helps prevent rust.
 
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