Talk to me about etching stainless blades

Bob Ohlemann

Bob Ohlemann

Joined
Dec 5, 2013
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I am looking to try an etched & stonewashed finish on a knife. I use 440C, CPM-S35VN and AEB-L. I would like any input on which steel takes etching best and what to use for etching. I know FC is very popular for Damascus blades but haven't been able to find a definitive answer on whether it works on stainless blades. Any advice on best methods would be helpful as well.

Bob
 
PCB etchant from radio shack is what I use. I use 2 parts water to 1 part etchant.
 
FC will work on stainless. It isn't the same look as it gets on carbon steel. 1:3 to 1: 5 ratio works for most folks.

Another etchant that works for a matte gray look is muriatic acid. I don't recommend it because most makers aren't set up or trained to handle it. The dilution ratio has to be figured out. It can be anywhere from 1:5 to 1:30.
 
bladsmth said:
Another etchant that works for a matte gray look is muriatic acid. I don't recommend it because most makers aren't set up or trained to handle it. The dilution ratio has to be figured out. It can be anywhere from 1:5 to 1:30.
Click to expand...

If you want to find muriatic acid easily, go to any pool store, it's used to maintain pool water. It's nasty stuff though, and you really need full chemical gear to handle it properly (chemical gloves, face mask, apron).
 
Pool store, Home Depot, Lowe's ,etc. It is sold cheaply in two-gallon boxes with little or no real caution. I am always surprised it is just sitting on the shelf at HD where any fool can pick it up.

It has to be stored and used with care or it will corrode every steel tool in your shop. The fumes can wipe out your lungs, destroy your eyes, and blister your skin...it was the original "mustard gas".

Muriatic acid is the common name for hydrochloric acid. I am sure the name changed to the much milder sounding "Muriatic" ( it means "from brine") from the scary Hydrochloric acid after all the WW1 terror of chlorine gas. Muriatic sounds so benign,...after all you put Murine in your eyes.
 
I have 12 gallons of muriatic acid sitting on my back patio waiting for the builders to finish my pool. When I was a young man, we used to use muriatic acid to strip cadmium plating off bolts before tig welding them to fixtures and assemblies, I wore goggles and gloves and probably inhaled way too much of the stuff. Everything did come out a nice dull gray. I think I'll try some ferric chloride first. Thanks guys.

Bob
 
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