My blade will not etch..

M

montana guy

Joined
Dec 18, 2009
Messages
472
Why won't my Damascus handle etch? I did it the same way I did the blade, put it in brand new acid and it hardly touched it. It did it enough that I can see a pattern, but it is not as visible as the blade, far from it actually. It was sanded with the same grit paper as the blade. I don't get it. Ideas or solutions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Ronnie

Oops I titled the thread wrong, should be my handle will not etch.
 
I'm going to guess that you didn't heat treat the pieces used for your handle right? Damascus etches more darkly when it has a martensitic structure. So, when you hardened the blade, you were helping out your look as well as your knife's performance.

If it's not too late in your process, heat treat those handle parts just like your blade. You can temper them at a higher temp to soften them up a bit, but with simple carbon steel damascus, much over 550-600F will start to kill your contrast again.

-d
 
Is this a blade you made from a piece of damascus, or one you bought as a pre-made blade? If it was a purchased blade, many come with the tang part being a piece of plain steel welded on the damascus blade. Thus the tang is not damascus, and it won't etch a pattern.
Stacy
 
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