heat bluing cable damascus question

[legato1]

i weleded up some cable damascus and was gonna make some pendants and wanted to know if you need to etch it before you heat blue (gonna use a toaster oven) it to bring out the pattern, or if the bluing will bring out the pattern. thanks.

 

[Nebulae]

if you want the pattern then yes I believe your gonna want to etch it, although come to think of it the pattern might come out verrrry faint if you just heat it.
if you use a blow torch you can get all kinds of pretty colors, and rainbow too. problem is you have to be carfull, and you cant get 1 even color

 

[JasonSCarter]

definantly etch, first. then heat to 575ºF for Royal blue I like using a propane torch to heat blue. it's slow but way more controlable! start at an edg and move inwards making circles and letting the blue tip dance on the cable.

Jason

 

[legato1]

im making a ring and pendant set, would the same method with the torch work ? or would it be better to use something like an oven for the small pieces im gonna be working on. thanks. and is there any other place that has ferric chloride for etching? i went to radio shack and tehy had no idea what i was talking about when i asked for pc board etchant. thanks guys

 

[JasonSCarter]

warm Vinegar will etch just a well in about 2-4 hours. I'd use a torch becuase it'll give you that much more control.

Jason