Reworking an Old Damascus Blade

M

me2

Joined
Oct 11, 2003
Messages
5,117
I just found an old damascus drop point from Atlanta Cutlery. The pattern has been sanded almost completely off to remove rust. I want to knock the old handles off and bring out the pattern and redo the handle. I have access to some FeCl from Radio Shack, but I also thought about bluing it. Can the FeCl be used to etch the pattern out? Would bluing be able to bring out the contrast and pattern? What grit finish is best before etching? I have some file/sanding work to do to flatten the tang and remove all the old epoxy and wood, so I need to know what finish to take it to before etching. I dont have a lot of faith in its cutting ability, but its an old blade from a long time ago, so I want to give it a shot.
 
i would say take it to atleast 600-800 grit finnish if your going to try and etch it. then clean it VERY well and i mean VERY well with assatone. then make up a mix of feric chloride. a 50/50 mix works good but other people might use a diffrent concentration. you will mix it with watter half water and half FC. then put your blade in and let it sit for a min and remove and look to see if your are getting an even coating of black gunk on the blade. if you see little streaks of specks of silver then the blade is not clean and needs to be repolished and recleaned.
 
Blueing would depend on the types of metal in the damascus. If they blue differently you would be fine. If not do the etch with FC. Do like JT says then, just keep placing it in the FC and wait for 5 min take it out and wash it with hot water and rubber gloves and a light rub with a scrubber pad and repeat till your happy. Then you can polish it on a buffer for the shiny look, with the pattern showing because of depth differences. If one steel is black and the other a bit shiny boil it in water for a bit to fix the color. Want to than who ever it was that turned me on to that. Jim
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top