Reverse Etch

[Pinoy Knife]

Greeting's all i know i don't post alot but im a good "lurker" ive seen something that has me wondering how it was done ?? so i thought id ask for some Help from all of you . how do you produce a raised etch ?? ive seen a very few examples of this and everytime i gotta know how is it done .

Someone/ Anyone /Everyone

 

[Raymond Richard]

Hey Matt, To do what your asking you just need to apply a resist in the area that you want to be raised or not etched. I've used a sharpee pen at times to do that. Super glue, nail polish, or anything that will stop the etch from attacking the steel that is underneath.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

A brief description of the procedure:
If you want a happy face raised up in the center of an oval on a blade,first draw the oval perimeter with a resist pen (a Sharpie works well).Now black off the entire blade except the oval.Draw the happy face in the oval. The areas that are black will be raised, the unmasked areas will be etched. Etch deeply,neutralize, clean off the resist with acetone and buff the blade.The happy face will be raised up in a recessed (and frosted) oval.
This is also a real good way to mark a damascus blade. Once the blade is finished and ready for the etch,stamp your mark and black out an oval covering the mark. (you can also just write your initials,or draw your logo on with a Sharpie).Etch as normal. The covered area won't etch and will be bright and smooth.It will be slightly raised as well.If you wrote on the blade,the writing will be raised and shiny.
Stacy

 

[GibsonFan]

Wow, that is very cool.

 

[Pinoy Knife]

Guys yes i know about "Masking" it off ive seen a couple of antique sword's that had a deagon raised like 1/8 above the rest of the steel.ive alway's wondered how the hell did they do that ??:thumbup: :thumbup:

 

[Whoever Wherever]

At that thickness I doubt it was etched at all. Maybe a relief carving of sorts.

 

[ciphery]

If you want a reel detailed and high end look aswell as a reuseable "mask" you can go to your local graphics shop(cars and trucks vynel letters/graphics) and get them to cut out a pattern.This is how I put my name on my blades.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Pinoy Knife
Those blades were often etched as I described. The whole blade is reduced in the etching,leaving raised patterns on the surface ( it can look quite high relief,but is usually only .050 to .070" high. Many modern "antique" swords and knives are die struck and the pattern is stamped at the time of manufacture.

I have a friend who uses mokume for his butt caps. He has a raised logo and initials on each one. He uses transfer art lettering and draws the logo with a resist pen. He then etches the mokume' until the pattern is raised about 1/16". People often think he hand carves them.(note - if you want to raise the image more than .050",you will have to make the resist area a bit larger than desired to allow for undercutting of the etchant)
Stacy