- Joined
- Apr 18, 2014
- Messages
- 244
Sooooooo...
I dipped a 1095 blade in the ferric solution I had made up earlier this week and got a very quick, uniform dark grey etch with no issues (60 second etch). Come tonight, I dipped my 1075 blade (degreased x2 and acetone wiped x2) in the same solution and only got a weak grey etch with patches of mottled black in a few places (90 second etch). The blade had been sanded to 2000 grit prior to etching. Longer etches (up to 10 minutes) just yielded micro pitting with no significant color change. I tested a piece of un-heattreated 1075 from the same bar and it turned jet black. I completely re-sanded the blade to 320, thinking I had over sanded and the same result occurred. Grey color, no hamon. Blade was clayed along the spine and heat treated @ 1480F with 10 minute soak and Parks 50 quench, followed by 375 F temper x2.
Ferric solution is 1:1 FeCl3 to vinegar with 50% dilution with RODI water in a silicone sealed PVC container. The solution was untouched from the previous etch to the current.
Thoughts?
Post heat treat (clay lines visible):
https://photos.app.goo.gl/BAFxcnS1RpRT4XHC2
Post etch:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/7WvQ1GzvHcwGy7ug1
I dipped a 1095 blade in the ferric solution I had made up earlier this week and got a very quick, uniform dark grey etch with no issues (60 second etch). Come tonight, I dipped my 1075 blade (degreased x2 and acetone wiped x2) in the same solution and only got a weak grey etch with patches of mottled black in a few places (90 second etch). The blade had been sanded to 2000 grit prior to etching. Longer etches (up to 10 minutes) just yielded micro pitting with no significant color change. I tested a piece of un-heattreated 1075 from the same bar and it turned jet black. I completely re-sanded the blade to 320, thinking I had over sanded and the same result occurred. Grey color, no hamon. Blade was clayed along the spine and heat treated @ 1480F with 10 minute soak and Parks 50 quench, followed by 375 F temper x2.
Ferric solution is 1:1 FeCl3 to vinegar with 50% dilution with RODI water in a silicone sealed PVC container. The solution was untouched from the previous etch to the current.
Thoughts?
Post heat treat (clay lines visible):
https://photos.app.goo.gl/BAFxcnS1RpRT4XHC2
Post etch:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/7WvQ1GzvHcwGy7ug1
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