Gun blue and bleach etching question

[R.C.Reichert]

Is there a trick to getting a nice gun blue and bleach etch on a blade that is even on both sides? I'm finding that one side will come out with a nice pattern and the other side will have large areas where it didn't etch at all.

 

[Tin.Man]

Let the blue dry before putting into bleach gave the best results.

Also make sure it’s spine in or edge in, but remember it is a random chemical reaction. Texturing hammer would give you more consistent texture.

Rick Marchand is the amazing smith who helped me with that the most.

 

[Alan Davis Knives]

Hang it straight up and down in the bleach , do not let it just lean to one side. Sand blasting it before bluing also seems to help.

 

[R.C.Reichert]

Thanks guys! I'll give those suggestions a try.

 

[Raymond Richard]

Keep in mind different steels will have different results.

 

[Rick Marchand]

There are many things you can do to effect the etch. Here is one...

Apply your bluing, scrub it in with steel wool, then daub the surface with the wool to make a random pattern. Scrubbing it in makes sure the blue covers the entire surface and daubing it reduces streaks and introduces little metal flakes mixed in. Let it dry then hang it into the bleach. As it sits there, the little bits of steel wool slide down the blade and make patterns.