Question: etching forged blades

[godogs57]

I am relatively new to forging blades. How do the folks etch their blades to show the temper lines on their blades? I have my 50/50 solution of etchant and vinegar that I use to etch damascus and my dagger blades, but I usually etch for 20 minutes or so on those...I don't suppose I etch that long on a 52100 blade just to expose the temper line. I am wanting to etch it to only darken in slightly, as I see in the magazines. From the pics, it appears the blades have just a slight grey tint to them.

I have finished the 52100 blades to a mirror finish, as I do my stock removal blades, and this obviously does not lend well to showing the temper lines. Any help is appreciated.

Hank

 

[blgoode]

Hi Hank,
I take my blades to 600 grit and etch for as long as I need to to get the desired look. I start off with 2 5 min sessions.

 

[AwP]

In my experience (not all that much), etching for hamons takes alot more etching then damascus. I etch then I lightly sand with very fine sandpaper finer then the grit I finished with, usually 1500+. Then I etch again, and repeat as needed. It's two steps forward and one step back, it seems like you ruin the hamon when you lightly sand it but it'll be just a little better after the next etch, and just a little better on the etch after that. Assuming you don't overdo the sanding that is.

 

[Kim Breed]

I etch in ferric chloride 50/50 with water until I get a dark temper line. Neutralize acid, dry, then I buff with green then pink. Really makes the temper line show for the eye or camera. Check out the results on my web site. bwbladeworks.com