So I removed my Damascus, now what?

Prince of Peace

Prince of Peace

Joined
May 6, 2006
Messages
338
In a effort to "clean up" my new damascus blades I covered them with Maas creme. I cleaned them alright. SO clean in fact one looks like its 440c with a mirror finish.:grumpy:

I understand there is a way for the REAL GREEN knife man to retarnish..."etch" my damascus again so I don't feel like I wasted several hundred dollars.

Perhaps some one could suggest how to fix what I have done.I feel so stupid.

:thumbdn: Daddy..... sigh.......
 
You will have to supply more info before any attempt to provide help with etching.

Who made the damascus, what is the composition of the damascus, is the knife a folder of a fixed blade, can the knfie be broken down? How was it finished before you altered it?
 
Wow, that Maas cream must be a heck of a polish.

What I have used in the past is bleach. I spread it evenly on the blade and let it sit until the etch is fairly dark. I then rinse the blade thoroughly. If the blade is darker than I like I take some 1000 grit emery paper (wet or dry) and polish the blade until it has the darkness that I feel suits the knife. I have done this with two knives and it has worked well both times. Make sure the blade is thoroughly dry , and you should probably oil it as well before putting it away.

Bleach is a very strong chemical, so be careful what you get it on. If your guard is anything but stainless steel, the bleach will react with it and could cause problems. I tape off the guard with masking tape.

Wait for a few more people to chime in before giving this a try. Someone with more experience than myself may have a better solution to your problem. If so, I will be very interested in getting this information.
 
Arthur posted while I was typing. He is someone that has much more experience than I do. It would be a good idea to take his advice and supply us with as much information as possible.
 
As Keith said, must be powerful stuff that Maas cream. This Chris Owens Bowie, when it arrived, was darker than I like and was a bit rough with the etch so I spent quite a few nights while watching TV working on it with Semichrome and it came out very nice.

standard


So far, it is the only damascus I have had to do this with. As you can see the etch is still very deep and distinctive so the Maas must be some potent stuff.
 
BeowulftheGeat said:
You will have to supply more info before any attempt to provide help with etching.

Who made the damascus, what is the composition of the damascus, is the knife a folder of a fixed blade, can the knfie be broken down? How was it finished before you altered it?
Click to expand...
Chad Nichols Damascus Billit was used on this fixed blade knife with Mammoth tooth slabs. I can't break it down at all. This was a completed "SOLD" knife delivered to me.
Does the bleach thing really work?
Someone else said get circuit board acid etch from Radio Shack and mix it with warm water then let it soak in there until you get the desired results.

Any help?
Sick to my stomach in Wisconsin,:barf:
Daddy
 
Daddy_Juggalo said:
Chad Nichols Damascus Billit was used on this fixed blade knife with Mammoth tooth slabs. I can't break it down at all. This was a completed "SOLD" knife delivered to me.
Does the bleach thing really work?
Someone else said get circuit board acid etch from Radio Shack and mix it with warm water then let it soak in there until you get the desired results.

Any help?
Sick to my stomach in Wisconsin,:barf:

Daddy
Click to expand...

Be careful with the radio shack etchant. It can make a mess of your knife if you dont know what your doing. I am near Milwaukee. Where are you? Maybe I can help.
 
I live in Delavan,11 miles west of Lake Geneva. But still to far for a house call. Thanks though. I will probably try the bleach thing first then as I have a Todd Allen made neck knife I did the same thing to I'll use it as my guniea pig.

sigh..... all the reading I ever did on Damascus never prepared me for this. I guess that's why they always say use mild dish soap and warm water then rinse, dry and oil lightly before putting Damascus away. sigh.

If I only knew that tarnish remover would remove the pattern I would never had let the Maas in the house to begin with. sigh.

Bleach... I wonder how long I let it sit? I can tape off the teeth slabs easy enough, but I am still up in the air as for how long to soak it it straight bleach. An hour,a day,a week?
Feeling better,:(
Daddy
 
here is instructions off the Devin Thomas site. http://www.devinthomas.com/pages/heat.html

Take blade to 400 grit finish (must be a sharp belt)
Do not buff before etching
Hand rubbed finish is also good
Etch in a 50/50 diluted solution of ferric chloride
(available at Radio Shack) and distilled water
Submerse blade in solution for 10 minutes
Remove blade and rinse under running water
Repeat every 5 minutes until desired results are obtained
For a brighter blade, buff and re-etch 1 time
Neutralize with tri sodium phosphate
 
As far as how long I leave the bleach on the blade is concerned. I leave it until the blade is as dark as I want it to be, and yes, bleach does work.
 
Keith I'm going with the laundry room first. You say till it's dark enough... does it change at once or over a period of time?
Thanks,
Daddy;)
 
If it were me, I would use Devin Thomas' method.
"Submerse blade in solution for 10 minutes
Remove blade and rinse under running water
Repeat every 5 minutes until desired results are obtained"

If you see nothing is happening at those time intervals just increase the time gradually until something happens.
 
Daddy_Juggalo said:
Keith I'm going with the laundry room first. You say till it's dark enough... does it change at once or over a period of time?
Thanks,
Daddy;)
Click to expand...

It starts to change almost immediately and then darkens more over time.
 
Sound to me like your blade wasn't etched at all, maybe just heat blued or gun blued. If it was etched and you polished the black off you would still be able to see a pattern. This is one of the reasons I etch instead of bluing my damascus. Have you thought about asking the maker about this?
 
I sent an email to you when I got your email. As everyone has said this is "REAL" damascus of 1095 and 15n20. It is still damascus just can't see the pattern and the background black was eliminated. I will re-etch and send back the same day....just keep it wiped off with a light coating of oil in the future. If you want to I can buff if the balck background is not desired.

I answered in another forum and did not hear back yet.

Steve Busch
www.buschcustomknives.blademakers.com
 
Another thing is the mammoth is held on with screws and will not like bleach. If you try the etchant from Radio Shack, which is what the knife was etched in, be sure to cover the screw threads with nail polish or the threads may get screwed up and remove the ivory.

Steve
 
Daddy_Juggalo, it looks like Steve has presented you with the best option. If you send it back to him, you know you are going to get it sone right.
 
All I do is use Brownells water displacing oil. I have even used 0000 steel wool to rub with the oil with no problems.

Steve
 
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