Some damascus etching info

NickWheeler

NickWheeler

Joined
Dec 3, 1999
Messages
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I've seen a few threads on here about different effects with etching damascus.

I have a 1300 layer random pattern dagger that I had nearly complete. Unfortunately, I wasn't happy with the etch at all. I spent 30 hours just on the guard for this knife, so a poor etch really didn't "top it off" like I had hoped for.

When I had Steve Schwarzer inspect it at the ABS Reno show, he asked if I used tap water in my etching solution.

I did.

About a week ago, I took the knife all apart and went back to a 60X belt....Yea, that really wasn't fun.

I took it back through all of the grits and hand-sanding, but this time I followed Steve's advice and made up some new etching solution with distilled water. I even used distilled water for cleaning between etches.

Well, maybe it's all placebo...but this change made a bigger difference than any of the other elements I'd done to try and improve my etching.

Steve told me I'd add $300-400 to the value of an already priced $1850 knife...and I think it really did.

Just wanted to pass it on since Steve was so gracious to pass it to me :)

Nick
 
Thanks for the tip Nick. I just happen to have a piece of twist that I will be making a blade from sometime in the furure. I will remember your advice. One question... What kind of acid are you using? Ferric Cloride?

Rick
 
I agree Nick. I had been using the same old etchant since I made the first batch. One day I needed a deeper container so after making it I made a new batch of etchant (2parts FC - 3 parts tap water). It works amazingly better. The old stuff had changed so slowly through time that I had not realized it had lost some or most of its effect. I am going to start changing etchant about every six months now.
 
Nick,
Is your tap water straight well water or chlorinated "city water"?
Just curious cuz we're on a straight well, no treatment(chlorine, fluoride, etc).
 
I too am a real believer in distilled water - in knowing what you're using. Anything you can do to eliminate variables helps. I've been using distilled water for the etchant and for mixing with the stencil developer.

Somehow though the magic hasn't translated through to super value in my work! :D

Dave
 
The water here has so much lime in it that you have to constantly reacidify the soil to keep plants growing. It is really nasty to put it into etchant. Distilled water is the way to go.
 
Yea, my tap water is city water. It's those extra chemicals that Steve advised could throw off the etch.

I had just made up a brand new etching solution before I etched the dagger the FIRST time, but it was with city tap water. The second time was with the distilled water, and it really looks better.

I mixed 4 parts water to 1 part Ferric Chloride.

I've found that vinegar works really well on differentially hardened blades, but I haven't tried it on damascus yet.

Hey Dave, as far as super value...well, I think I'll be making somewhere around $0.35/hour on this one :) Hey, you better stop by and shoot the breeze in Atlanta!

Nick
 
Hey Nick what about a picture. I get frustrated when I can't finish a blade in a week of an hour or two a night. Just feels like it takes FOREVER. It gives me some perspective to hear how much someone like yourself spends on a blade. I'd love to see it.
Ed
 
Hey Nick, now you tell me! :p
I used tap (well) water and thought the etch turned out great---but what do I know....this Damascus shtuff is all VERY new and exciting! I feel an addiction coming on :D
Your patients and help has been very muchly appreciated, mi amigo!
Give me a call when you get a chance.

Mike Dagley
 
Nick,

Your thread just happened to occur on the same evening I was playing around etching a sample of damascus with vinager. I am not ready to make a damascus knife yet but thought I should play with it a little anyhow.

Lots to learn about damascus. Some day I will start using some.

I will try to remember your advise.

Roger
 
Oh man, sorry Mike!!! Like I tell everyone, I'd forget my head if it weren't attached...so I'm not surprised I forgot to tell you that.

I still got some great etches in tap water solution, but I just feel like the distilled water is cleaner and smoother.

Hey Ed, I know what you mean about the time factor. The guard looked good on paper, so I started off with real zeal. After I had spent about 15 hours on it, I really was tired of it, but had spent too much time on it to stop. Of course there's also the problem of me being such a beginner and screwing up all the time. I'm sure a Mastersmith could have knocked it out in a few hours.

Many of you have seen the knife, I had it at both Reno and OKCA, but it had a bad etch :rolleyes: And the handle had some work left on it.

I'll have it DONE in Atlanta. So I'll either get a picture from Point7 or BladeGallery.

Oh, and don't thank me for the tip, thank Steve Schwarzer.

Hey Roger, I suspect in room temp vinegar, it would take quite some time to get a good etch on damascus. If you were to heat it up it would really speed things up.

Thanks guys :)
Nick
 
Hey Nick, you're telling me my damascus/stag hunter has a bad etch? ;) Sure could have fooled me! That blade is awesome! 3 of my buddies are trying to buy that knife from me all the time. :D
 
I rarely reuse ferric cloride for more than one batch of 3 to five knives. If the acid s older than two or three days it gets dumped and a fresh batch made. Ferric cloride is cheap so there is no reason to conserve it.
 
Ferric is gold around here, all the Radio Shacks have quit carrying it and all you get are dumb "Huh?"s from whoever you ask about it...

So where can you get more? I've been hoarding my little bottle of the stuff like a miser.

Dave
 
Originally posted by ddavelarsen
Ferric is gold around here, all the Radio Shacks have quit carrying it and all you get are dumb "Huh?"s from whoever you ask about it...

So where can you get more? I've been hoarding my little bottle of the stuff like a miser.

Dave
Click to expand...

I agree about radio shack, brain dead.
You might try this place, they supply chemicals and they might have ferric chloride. Another avenue might be to call a wholesale electronic supply company in your area, ask for printed circuit board etchant.
http://www.reagents.com./

Edited to add; here's another place.
http://www.pyrotek.org/cgi-bin/newCataloger.cgi?dest=index
This place lists it in solid form. I don't know what it takes to make it liquid, but maybe this could turn out better. :confused:
 
Originally posted by ddavelarsen
Ferric is gold around here, all the Radio Shacks have quit carrying it and all you get are dumb "Huh?"s from whoever you ask about it...

So where can you get more? I've been hoarding my little bottle of the stuff like a miser.

Dave
Click to expand...


Hi Dave,

If you need some, let me know and I'll run down to the local Radio Shack and put some in the mail to you Monday morning. All of ours still carry it, at least last time I checked! :)

-Darren
 
Peter,

I use the same solution to etch stailess with that I do my nickle damascus with. It works fine. If you are doing bolsters you will need to harden them to get a proper etch.

The stuff sold by the wholesale electronic places tends to be stronger than the Radio Shack stuff. Ask the dealer what the stength is and adjust your dilution rate acordingly.
 
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