- Joined
- Jul 15, 2012
- Messages
- 331
This is my first attempt at etching a Busse knife blade. (actually my first time etching ANY knife blade) I used Ferric Chloride solution that I purchased on ebay. The Ferric Chloride "resist" was BLACK Sharpie Oil Based Paint Marker.
NOT the regular Sharpie Permanent type marker. I could not find the Oil Based Paint Marker locally so I also ordered a few of those on ebay.
I used a heat gun to flatten the entire length of a piece of plastic PVC pipe down to an opening of slightly wider than 1/4" and then I heated the bottom of the pipe and quickly folded it over and squeezed it shut to seal it. That was my etch container and I flattened it so that it would not take very much of the chemical to etch a blade. Basically creating a flat tube open at one end. Then I stood it upright in a small vise.
I did the tiger stripe pattern by tearing lengths of Green Frog Tape with my fingers. (that is like the blue painters masking tape but, it's green in color)
I did the pattern in tape and then allowed the oil paint marker to "bleed" under the ragged edges of the torn tape in order to get the random ragged edges on the stripes.
Then (of course) I removed the tape before I started the etching process.
I also used the marker to cover the edge of the blade because I did not want the etch to eat up the edge of the blade. The stripes line up on the flip side of the blade and run across the spine.
Not sure of the exact total time that I etched but after I thought is was enough I rinsed in HOT running water.
Then I used lacquer thinner to remove the oil based marker ink.
Then did a quick soak in baking soda and hot water to neutralize the Ferric Chloride.
Then sanded the entire blade with fine 3M "Wet Or Dry" paper to bring out the pattern. I am happy with the way it turned out.
There are instruction Videos on YouTube that detail Ferric Chloride etching on Steel.
NOT the regular Sharpie Permanent type marker. I could not find the Oil Based Paint Marker locally so I also ordered a few of those on ebay.
I used a heat gun to flatten the entire length of a piece of plastic PVC pipe down to an opening of slightly wider than 1/4" and then I heated the bottom of the pipe and quickly folded it over and squeezed it shut to seal it. That was my etch container and I flattened it so that it would not take very much of the chemical to etch a blade. Basically creating a flat tube open at one end. Then I stood it upright in a small vise.
I did the tiger stripe pattern by tearing lengths of Green Frog Tape with my fingers. (that is like the blue painters masking tape but, it's green in color)
I did the pattern in tape and then allowed the oil paint marker to "bleed" under the ragged edges of the torn tape in order to get the random ragged edges on the stripes.
Then (of course) I removed the tape before I started the etching process.
I also used the marker to cover the edge of the blade because I did not want the etch to eat up the edge of the blade. The stripes line up on the flip side of the blade and run across the spine.
Not sure of the exact total time that I etched but after I thought is was enough I rinsed in HOT running water.
Then I used lacquer thinner to remove the oil based marker ink.
Then did a quick soak in baking soda and hot water to neutralize the Ferric Chloride.
Then sanded the entire blade with fine 3M "Wet Or Dry" paper to bring out the pattern. I am happy with the way it turned out.
There are instruction Videos on YouTube that detail Ferric Chloride etching on Steel.
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