Problem with etching High Carbon Damascus

U

udtseal

Joined
Apr 29, 2008
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This is a first time problem for me. I've just etched a High Carbon Damascus and have what appears to be copper burnishing in one spot. I've never had this happen before! Any suggesttions on removing it or grind and start again?
 
Was the ferric cloride new. If it got copper in it the copper will attach itself to a nickel alloy. I do it on purpose sometimes.
 
Bought 2 qts. last summer, guess that may make it old? Is there any way to polish it out or do I need to sand it down and buy new and start again?
 
It should buff out. How did you mix it. Are you going for the all shiny texture look or the shiny and dark contrast look. Jim
 
50/50 w/distilled white vinger. I generly go for the black/polished look but if it takes polisheing down to all shiney, then that's the way I'll go! Thanks for your help. One more question about that copper color. How would you go about doing the whole blade that way. It gives a new pop to the blade I never realized was there before and may try it for my next personal blade. Thanks again, Doug.
 
Etching brass with your ferric chloride, then using it on steel, will give that coppery look. It is a very thin coating, however. Using the vinegar with the FeCl might change the rules a bit, I haven't tried that mix. It does look pretty cool.

Make sure that you label the copper contaminated bottle so you don't get that look when you don't want it.

Gene
 
The copper attaches to the nickel. I use 1/3 ferric, 1/3 vinegar, 1/3 distilled water myself. After the etch boil the blade in water a while as it helps set the black on the carbon (thanks for that tip from someone here) . The copper isn't heavy like mentioned, but it looks neat to me. Jim
 
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