Help with ferric chloride reagent

stonemedusa6264 · Apr 20, 2023

I believe I can use it to force patina. What i ordered is a powdered form n I'd want it in liquid. I think.

I'm not finding any info on how to do this safely. Also just searching on my phone n I can find stuff a lot easier when I'm using a computer.

I have an old grinding helmet I was gonna use. Latex gloves. And I was gonna do it outside. Not sure if thats enough safety. Do I just mix this powder with water or hydrochloric acid?

Yea this is over my head for now.... Gonna heat up some vinegar

MattWRog · Apr 20, 2023

I found a fairly effective method if you want an alternative. Go to you your local auto parts house like Autozone and see if you can find Rustoluem rust dissolver gel in a spray bottle. The main ingredient is phosphoric acid. Any rust remover with that acid would likely work as well; I was just using this gel for it’s intended purpose on rust and then decided to experiment on carbon steel blades for etching.

I mixed it about 5:1 I suppose with hottest water I could, not boiling. The result on Case chrome vanadium steel was a nice dull dark grey after only a few minutes. Pretty safe at this solution.

stonemedusa6264 · Apr 21, 2023

Good idea. I think draino n similar products would work too. I'm not really good with chemicals or safety in general.

I didn't have any vinegar. I boiled down some lemon juice with a splash of mustard mixed in.

At some point I got impatient and threw the powder in a takeout container with some water n ran away. Gave it a minute and put the lid on. When I was done I dumped a box of baking soda on it and ran away again. Do as they say not as I do.

The end result was pretty good. Keep in mind it was all splotchy when I started.

davek14 · Apr 22, 2023

wet strips of paper towels with vinegar (lemon juice might work) and wrap the blade in them. One layer is fine. Let dry. Something when it's drying on there is when patina happens.

Forest Ninja · Apr 22, 2023

stonemedusa6264 · Apr 22, 2023

There's a lot of ways to force patina. I didn't ask for suggestions on other methods and don't think you read the op. Lets stop that here please and thank you

MolokaiRider · Apr 22, 2023

To use ferric chloride, there are a few things to be aware of.

If your knife has any aluminum, you want to make sure it doesn't interact.

Also, before disposing, it needs to be neutralized.

Also, I believe the effect you're looking for is called Smut, and once your blade has formed this, it is gonna be tough to remove. So if the effect is not evenly applied, you can have splotching.

I believe ferric chloride is popular for etching, but not necessarily for using as a blade coating.

It reacts so fast, that it could potentially eat too much metal, and unevenly, or even cause pitting.

stonemedusa6264 · Apr 22, 2023

MolokaiRider said:
To use ferric chloride, there are a few things to be aware of.

If your knife has any aluminum, you want to make sure it doesn't interact.

Also, before disposing, it needs to be neutralized.

Also, I believe the effect you're looking for is called Smut, and once your blade has formed this, it is gonna be tough to remove. So if the effect is not evenly applied, you can have splotching.

I believe ferric chloride is popular for etching, but not necessarily for using as a blade coating.

It reacts so fast, that it could potentially eat too much metal, and unevenly, or even cause pitting.

That's really funny. I think I got the idea to use it off a bladehq vid. It would make sense, if you think about it. Why do they care if you mess up your knife n have to buy a new one. I think I did other research and the dissolved iron in the acid is supposed to form a better patina. I don't remember where I found it and I couldn't find anything when I had blade in hand ready to go.

I think most acids react with aluminum. I got hit with a draino bomb on the porch back in the day. Cops said it was just a draino bomb. Draino and aluminum foil in a sealed bottle equals big boom.

But for a careless guy like me? I got away with just throwing the ferric chloride powder in the water and running away... This time anyway.

I think if I wanted an even finish it would have done it. I wanted to see the different spots n scrub marks the blade came to me with though. To me the point of patina is the look and a more porous layer to hold oil but not look oily