Ferric Chloride

[Troop]

Thanks fellows. Now one more question. What is the best stencil material for initials, logos & such?

Vinyl works great for stenciling with FC.

 

[fdh54turkeyshooter]

Thanks Troop, and good looking knife, how do you attach the vinyl cutout to the blade?

 

[Troop]

Thanks Troop, and good looking knife, how do you attach the vinyl cutout to the blade?

The stuff from the vinyl sign shop comes "kinda-sorta" sticky; I think that it's inherently "sticky". I asked the sign shop to cut out two-inch squares. I degrease the blade real good with acetone, then slap the stencil on.
With a Q-tip, I dab the FC, in a 3:1 distilled water to FC, on to the stencil. I do this around 3 times, then use a clean Q-tip to remove it all from the stencil.
I neutralize the whole thing with Windex, then realize...Crap! It's a little crooked! (kidding)

 

[efleming]

Fry's Electronics has FC as well.

 

[fdh54turkeyshooter]

To Troop: Ok I got the Ferric Chloride from Radio Shack. & the stencil material from a place that puts the film on autos. Next question is what are you using to mark the stencil material for the cut-out. Anyway I am going to give your method a try. Thanks for the help. The thanks is for everyone!

 

[nthe10ring]

Not to hijack the thread but when etching the whole blade what ratio are you diluting the premixed FC too. The kind you buy at the electronic shops, not the powdered kind.
Jerry

 

[fdh54turkeyshooter]

Have not mixed it yet. Was going to do 3 parts distilled water to 1 part FC solution. I was also going to try etching just the initials in the blade first, before I tried a whole blade.