reddish blade post etch?

[JeridJohnson]

never seen a blade come out of the fc etch this color. and I have used pieces of this same Damascus billet before. it's alabama damascus. any ideas why this happened? I suspect it will look fine when I hit the high spots with fine grit sandpaper.

first pic is straight out of etch.

second pic is after scrubbing with a nylon brush and baking soda then applied some wd40.

 

[coldsteelburns]

Is there anyway that your etchant could have been contaminated with copper, or even brass? Have you etched anything that had either of those metals on it (bolsters pins etc.), or have you ground either of those metals on your grinder without having the etchant covered recently, or at least since the last time you etched damascus? Just brainstorming here.

~Paul

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My YT Channel Lsubslimed
... (It's been quite a while since I've posted any new vids)

 

[JeridJohnson]

my container is sealed when not in use. only ever etched steel and wrought iron in it

 

[CUTS LIKE A KRIS]

I would have thought brass/copper/bronze- like this:

It was normal time and concentration for the etch as well? I left one set longer than I hoped and they came out looking more rusted, but still looks like contaminated etchant.

Do you have scrap Damascus to try, and see if it is the etchant, or the steel.

 

[JeridJohnson]

yep. same enchant I have used for 12 years. etched for about 20 min. perhaps time to replace it. the blades I etched finished well. the color just threw me off when I pulled them out.

 

[Kosa_PL]

12 years ?

Etchand is for replace after 20-40 blades...

 

[JeridJohnson]

I don't do much etching and am well within that range.