Ferric chloride yields red color?

[Paul Sherman]

Has anyone else seen this reddish result from a quick dip in ferric chloride? The steels are 1084 and 15n20, but I saw the same result from leaf spring a few weeks ago, dusty rose red instead of the grey colors.

Any ideas what is going on here?






http://imgur.com/R3LtyPF

 

[NJBillK]

Photobucket doesn't work anymore. Well, it does if you pay $300+ per year... Much cheaper to pay for a membership here and use the stock photo.

Otherwise, try using a different photo hosting site like imgur.

Best of luck.

 

[SBuzek]

Your ferric is contaminated with copper

 

[WValtakis]

Yup, copper if it looks similar to this:



I tried to use contaminated Ferric to etch the logo on this Busse


~Chip

 

[JTknives]

Yep copper contamination. Cool things can be done with copper contaminated ferric like the logo above but etching Damascus will leave the copper flashing on the steel.

 

[Paul Sherman]

Very good. Time for some new ferric!

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Or just rub the copper flashinhg off with steel wool.