Type of Acid & Treating Time for Damascus

P

PeterB

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Apr 29, 2007
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I am actually making Damascus grips for 1911 handguns. To not add too much weight, I use thinner stock (3/16") than the 1/4" usually made (out of plastic or wood) and add 1/16" of G10 backing. This decreases the weight of the metal vs lighter materials.

I have a number of sets now ready for final sanding, but am wondering what type of acid, % strength, and amount of time is required. One fellow told me he uses 5 seconds of battery acid, but this is perhaps a bit excessive. Anyone care to give me some pointers?
 
You didn't say what the damascus mix is, but 99% of all etching on damascus is done in Ferric Chloride ( FC). Dilute the stock strength with water 3:1 for normal etching, or 5:1 for slower etching. Time is relevant to the materials in the damascus.

Clean the metal as clean as possible with dish soap and running hot water, then rinse off with denatured alcohol. Etch by hanging in the FC on a steel wire. Etch for 30 seconds, remove, rinse off and wipe down with 0000 steel wool. Give a quick wipe off with denatured alcohol and put back in the FC. Check at 1 minute intervals until it is etched as you wish. Etch a tad more than desired, because it "drops back" in the finishing sanding.

Once etched to the degree you want, wash off well with TSP or Windex to neutralize the FC. Then boil for 15 minutes in a pot of water with 1 Tsp. of baking soda added. Take out, rinse well, dry off, and lightly oil. Sand down with high grit paper to brighten the surface. The 3M polishing papers excel at the final polish on damascus.

BTW, any place or surface you don't want etched can be protected by a coat of red nail polish. Remove it with acetone after all etching is done and before the boiling step.
 
Wow! Thank you for the indepth information. I can see that my first mistake was to epoxy the G10 on the back FIRST! Thankfully, I only did this on one set. I'll figure a way to carefully acid etch only the metal on this first set. Should make for an interesting set of grips. Thank you again. (Wow, this stuff sure makes a mess of regular drills. I had to go to carbides!)
 
Stacy , "TSP or Windex" ? I thought Baking soda alone would neutralize the acid .

Peter, time, temperature and type of acid will all make a difference . Depending on the steels used and effect you are looking for. If the gun will be used the pattern will wear off eventually. This can be replaced by etching again.
Damascus can also be made of copper or titanium alloys .
 
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