Touching up damascus

[Col Defender]

My first damascus blade is almost done. It's fully ground, heat treated and the pattern reestablished by etching in 1:1 ferric acid:water. Coobolo handles are on and sanded to shape. There is a pinhead sized ding in the ricasso showing bare metal, and then there are the edges of the handle - also shiny metal from where I sanded the scales flush with the metal. Can I re-etch the pinhead sized ding with a Q-tip and ferric acid? And what about the metal edges all around the perimeter of the cocobolo scales? I am leery of getting ferric acid there because I don't know what it will do to the wood.

Advice please!

Thanks

Steve

 

[Sandeggo]

My first damascus blade is almost done. It's fully ground, heat treated and the pattern reestablished by etching in 1:1 ferric acid:water. Coobolo handles are on and sanded to shape. There is a pinhead sized ding in the ricasso showing bare metal, and then there are the edges of the handle - also shiny metal from where I sanded the scales flush with the metal. Can I re-etch the pinhead sized ding with a Q-tip and ferric acid? And what about the metal edges all around the perimeter of the cocobolo scales? I am leery of getting ferric acid there because I don't know what it will do to the wood.

Advice please!

Thanks

Steve

I've heard of guys using nail polish to mask the wood but I've also used tape with good results. I have since gone to doing most of my handle shaping off the blade, and mask the metal with pinstripe tape.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Black electrical tape will protect the handle. Stretch it tight. Use Q-tips to spot etch.

BTW, Dilute your FC more..... you want 3:1 (Water:FC)