Jimping the Spine with SCIENCE (Update: More Jimping, With a FILE!)

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Dogzovwar81

Joined
Jun 14, 2013
Messages
503
So, I did a little tinkering on my EsKabar today out of shear boredom. I had the bright idea of electro-etch some jimping. So I masked off the area with duct tape, and used a razor to cut out the areas I wanted to etch. I then proceeded to use the same method of etching I did to my Crewman: old cellphone battery, cup of saltwater, and q-tips. I don't really consider this experiment to be a success, but I also don't think it's a failure. The jumping, while shallow, does give my thumb some purchase on the spine. So, without further ado, here's the pics...
 
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First off, my EsKabar. A great little blade that needed some jimping.
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15 minutes later... JIMPING! Well, sorta...
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Better than nothing, maybe deepen them later.
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I'm mostly happy with the experiment. I may go deeper with etching, or just use what I've done so far as a starting point for some file work.
 
Thanks! Definitely worth the effort, and I had been wanting to jimp the spine since I got it. All it took was an exceptionally boring day to get started.
 
What witchcraft is this?! I've never heard of etching like this! Very cool setup man! You don't happen to have a How-To on how this is done do you?
 
So here's my setup:
-duct tape for masking the area
-old cellphone charger (with 2 wires)
-marker for, um, marking shapes in the tape
-razor for cutting the shapes
-q-tips for touching the current to the bare steel
-knife
(not pictured, cup of diluted salt water. Not sure the concentration, I just pour it in and mix it up)
yXQh808.jpeg
 
I go through a few q-tips, and you can tell it's working when the saltwater soaked q-tip blackens and bubbles and smokes.
 
Here's a couple shots from when I did the logos on my Bk10.
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When it hisses, smokes, and turns black, you know you're doing it right.
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For my EsKabar, I just taped the other wire to the side of the blade since it was already stripped. But on my Crewman, yes I used the bare edge.
 
Both the knives were bone dry when I did the etching. The wet looking area on the Crewman is actually how it looked after I cut up some chicken. But it was cleaned and dry.
 
Got some more pics. Built up my little shelter just using my EsKabar. Damn fine little blade, and I'm pretty confident that if it was your only knife in a survival situation, you'd be alright. Thanks to Uncle E, Esee, and Ka-Bar!

87ghbia.jpeg


Gs9qz9S.jpeg


ibUYgOp.jpeg
 
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