Hey, you etchers...I have a question

Mistwalker

Mistwalker

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Dec 22, 2007
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I have seen where several people have etched the laser engraving and stamping on their knives before stripping them so that the engraving remains. What is it that is used for the etching, actual names? I want to strip a coated knife knife that's made of CPM S30V, but I was to etch the engraving first because the knife is no longer made. Thanks for your help.
 
PCB etchent solution from radio shack, let it sit on there(submerged if possible) just make sure you protect the edge. I've used vasoline to cover the edge, put a thick layer on it so no metal is exposed that you don't want etched. I would leave it for at least an hour or so. And then the final step is to post pics when you are done or else nobody will believe you :D
 
edctac said:
PCB etchent solution from radio shack, let it sit on there(submerged if possible) just make sure you protect the edge. I've used vasoline to cover the edge, put a thick layer on it so no metal is exposed that you don't want etched. I would leave it for at least an hour or so. And then the final step is to post pics when you are done or else nobody will believe you :D
Click to expand...

Cool thanks, just one question...submerged? In water?
 
Not water.... The factory coating protects the steel..... And the Vaseline or engine paint can protect the edge.... Very important to cover the edge...I never used the Vaseline but have painted the edge with engine paint..... Submerge the knife in etchant solution after protecting edge..... Let it sit for an hour or so..... Or you can use qtip and just paint the logo area with etchant..... And just tape of the edge.... This way takes longer and requires more applications of the etchant. Good luck and post some pics when done.
 
Thanks, is there any reason this wouldn't work as well on stainless as it goes on hi carbon?
 
Pretty sure it will work on stainless just as well..... May have to it sit a little longer... Check it after an hour..... May have to resubmerge.
 
Hey mistwalker,

I used nailpolish on my edge and it worked fine, just make sure that you cover all exposed areas that you dont want to etch.

Yep, submerge it in the liquid. I used a glass baking pan that was resting on a stick on one side to keep it pooled to one side as the knife isn't the same size as the pan... allows you to use a lot less of the solution. Seems to work better if it's warmed up as well. I did mine outside in the Arizona sun/heat and it works much better than trying to dab it on with a qtip on only the parts that I wanted etched.

Also brush it every hour or so while etching to get the loose metal cleared out of the cavity.
 
I don't bother submerging the knife in etchant. I put masking tape on the blade edge, then drop the PCB Etchant on the logo with a medicine dropper (think Children's liquid tylenol). Every hour, I wash it off / scrub it out with a brush and reapply until it's deep enough for what I'm looking for.
 
What about filling a jar with the etchant and then remove one screw from the handle and use a stick/rod to suspend the knife from the mouth of the jar?
 
That will work. I'm just cheap and try to make it last longer.
 
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