I've got a 1084 knife I would like to "etch"

G

Gendry

Joined
Jul 19, 2014
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I know it's done with Damascus to bring out the patterns more, but I believe it can be done to carbon steel to a much lesser degree? If so, how would I go about doing this? I am just looking to make the steel look a little "cooler" and unique, will etching it do that?
What solution do I need to do it? I have heard of ferric chloride, but I am unsure if that would work for this, and I am also unsure what it is exactly, or where to get it..

Any help would be appreciated guys, this is a knife for a friend and I really wanna put the extra effort and detail in.
 
Ferric chloride is sold as "PCB Etchant" at Radio Shack, or at least it was when I bought mine. Dilute it 3:1 or 4:1 with distilled water. FC etch is a nice even gray.

Some folks put a mustard patina on using regular yellow mustard. Leaves a splotchy more textured looking finish.

Some folks use a resist like nail polish, then do a FC etch, to generate stripes or other patterns.
 
Honestly, I've tried almost every common method for etching or otherwise changing the appearance of the surface of a blade. Most looks ugly to me, but I can understand wanting to try something different. If you do decide to use etchant and want to go a little further, try a stone wash in conjunction with it. There's always cold and hot blueing along with the forementioned forced patina.

I stumbled upon some products at Hobby Lobby the other day that are some sort of chemical patinas. I'd be curious to hear if anyone knows anything about these.

Radio Shack still sold pcb etchant the last time I looked a few months back.
 
You can use a paper towel moistened with FeCl and water to add dimention to the etching too, and can be done with all steel. Here is an etched 440C blade I did that way, the etch is solid on it after using it for food prep for a couple of years.

6974F1A1-337D-472E-8C51-7B4BB07BCB7C-4325-000005A9D787C2C0.jpg


493ae40e.jpg

(The etched is stainless, the un-etched is 01!! How is that for irony!

And another in CPM-D2:
ea56a80c.jpg


I'm sure there are other and better methods, but this shows it will work, and I'm liking the results the more I play with it, but I'm slow and an amateur.
 
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