Ferric Chloride

fdh54turkeyshooter

fdh54turkeyshooter

Joined
Nov 2, 2007
Messages
84
For you knife makers that chemical etch your blades, I noticed that you can purchase the Ferric Chloride in powder form pretty cheap. What is the solution you mix it with. Or should I just purchase the ready made solution? I am a poor boy, and trying to find the best way, and where to get the stuff at the best price. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.::confused:
 
Well, depending on your zip code... The closest radio shack might be Tallahassee. They do have it in stores there. Depends on where in Taylor County you are.
 
Radio Shack does not carry ferric chloride anymore. But you can find it on eBay. Stay away from Oceanside Electronics. Took me four month to get my order straight.
 
BlackToe Knives said:
Radio Shack does not carry ferric chloride anymore. But you can find it on eBay. Stay away from Oceanside Electronics. Took me four month to get my order straight.
Click to expand...

That's odd, they still have it on the website and advertised as in stock in my local RS. Who knows.
 
They dont stock it in the store any more because it is a hazardous chemical and they dont want the liability in store. But they sell it on their site.
 
Radio Shacks are iffy anymore. Some still have it , some don't, but I think they all will order it for you.
 
I tried finding Ferric Chloride on Maui and in Oahu and Radio Shack told me there was no more in the state at any of their locations. Furthermore, they said, there would be no more coming as Radio Shack has discontinued the product. I have also had them tell me that it is not an item they can ship or can order as it is restriced due to it's hazardous nature. Which left me wondering how the frickin' stuff got on their shelves in the first place out here on an island. Anyway, I went to e - bay and bought a pound of anhydrous ferric chloride from a guy called quartzpegmatite. Cheap, prompt, easy. I played with the strength, starting mellow and adding a small scoop to the etch if I deemed it needed to be stronger. I used distilled water, maybe 20 oz. for a small hunter blade, with maybe 3 - 5 heaping teaspoons of powder. That was for cable damascus, all patterns/steels etch slightly differently so I guess just play with the proportions.
 
You mix dry FC with distilled water at a ratio of 1 pound FC to 1 pint (approx. one pound) water. Do this outside and stay away from the vapors. It will get hot when you mix it,too.This makes the stock solution (42 Baume) which you store and dilute as needed. Most folks use a diluting from 1:3 to 1:10 (stock solution to water).
Buying FC from Radio Shack is fine if you are doing only small blades and for occasional use, but when you need to etch a 40" sword, it would be real costly. Five pounds of FC will make almost a gallon of stock solution for the same money as a couple pints at Radio Shack.
Stacy
 
I have a 1 1/2" pvc tube 12" long fill it up 2" from the top with warm water and add two tea spoons of the dry stuff, works well for me.

Richard
 
I used the radio shack stuff for years and was happy with it, and I can still get it, however it is now $9 a pint. So I bought some of the dry for $9 a pound. I mix 1 pound per gallon of water(distilled) and I can etch 400 blades O-1&L-6 to a good depth in 20 min. After 400 blades it starts to slow down, I could probably push it a little more. I did find out the the dry stuff works better if you mix and let it set overnight before using. Since it comes in 1 pound packs I just mix a gallon when I need it and leave the rest dry.
Del
 
I just bought 2 pints at Radio Shack last weekend.. It is in a new white bottle now and has gone up to $9...
 
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