Qestion about damascus after etching.

J

jeremyjadams

Joined
Apr 9, 2006
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30
I am not a knife maker, but I got a damascus blade at a gun/knife show awhile back. It is already shaped, ground and heat treated. There were some light scratches, so I had to do some light sanding and re-etch the blade. The directions said after the final dip in the acid to allow the black oxidation to set. Rinse with warm water, rinse in baking soda (then I assumed to rinse off the baking soda) dry with hair-dryer and after completely dry spray with wd-40.

It doesn't say what to do next. How long does it take for the oxidation to set? I know that I don't want to do any sanding at this point (12 hours after dry and oil), but am I supposed to do anything before putting on the handle? The blade looks dark and dull. I don't want to lose the pattern... but it looks too flat.
Thanks in advance.
 
What I do with my damascus (1084/15n20 mostly) is the following:

- Clean with acetone (and don't touch with your fingers afterwards. Use gloves or only touch the tang where the etch won't matter)
- Hang in 3:1 Water:FeCl mix for 10 minutes
- Remove from FeCl, and neutralize with Windex (or other ammonia based cleaner)
- Clean off surface oxidation with 000 steel wool and water
- Repeat forst 4 steps until I develop the depth of etch I want.
- After removing from the final etch, flood the blade with acetone BEFORE neutralizing (this step sets the black)
- Neutralize with Windex
- Wrap 2000 grit sandpaper around a hard backer (I use a wood block with a piece of leather glued to it) and LIGHTLY sand the highs in one direction only.

This process sets the black in the lows very well and lets you quickly polish the highs without disturbing the black you just worked so hard to get.

-d
 
Great thanks.

-also... if I had used my wife's good pyrex (oh, yeah... it was brand new too) to hold the acid... could I clean it after neutralizing... and just put it back into the cupboard before she gets home? Or is it not good for cooking anymore?
 
Just wash it thoroughly before use. Pyrex isn't expensive , buy your own !!
 
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