Vinegar Etch

J

John T Wylie Jr

Joined
Feb 1, 2007
Messages
2,624
Not sure if I did this right or not , I like the effect though. Steel is 1095 , flat ground, edge quenched.

Bad part is I decided to etch after attaching the ironwood scales. :confused:
I soaked the knife standing up ( up to the scales ) in a glass of hot vinegar for an hour , then used 000 steel wool and scrubbed it good , rinsed and then back in the vinegar for another hour , repeat the scrub , and then handle down for an hour , scrub and then another final hour with the tip down.

After a few hours I llightly resanded the scales to bring the grain back , as it was extremely dark and weathered looking.

not sure if the look is for everyone's taste , but so far I like it , except the only thing that smells worse than ironwood or boiling vinegar is sanding boiled vinegar off of ironwood. :barf:

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Still have to make a sheath for it and etch my name , then it will make a nice blade to use at the range on the days when I am shooting the Mausers , Enfields and 03 :D
 
Looks great bud!

I'd definitely do it before attaching the scales. ;)

A few drops of dish detergent helps get a more even etch in the vinegar.

I love the knife.... it looks fantastic :)
 
thanks Nick... see you at Blade West this week ? Arriving Thurs , home late Sun night.

Next time it will be before adding scales , I didn't notice the temper line until I stepped out of the dark shop into the light ( I know add more shop lights :) ) , so the etch was an after thought....
 
Looks great, but etching before handling is easier. Don't ask how I know that! :jerkit:
Then just sand the center of the handle to get a bond if you are using epoxy!
 
try using lemon juice next time, i dont know about real lemons but the concentrate in those yellow plastic squeezy lemons :p works pretty well :thumbup: (I think you can buy it in bigger quantities)
 
I think it looks great. I also like the touch of the filework on the ironwood in line with the tang filework. :thumbup:
 
Looks really good. I'll agree with you on the smell of sanding vinegar. Last time I completely soak an Opinel in the stuff.
 
it doesn't smell as bad as vinegar I'm sure, but its not great. it smells fine in the beginning, but when it starts to rust it smells a little foul, and taste downright putrid! :barf: (don't ask how I know)
 
Nice John, that vinegar seems to have worked well,
you might have kept it in there a little too long as it
ate a notch out before the edge starts ;)
G2
 
Gary , that is just a reference to it being a notch different that my previous work , wanted to have this one on my belt for my trip to Portland to show a few friends , but I never got around to finishing the leather sheath for it....
 
I"m sure they will be very impressed!
That wood is beautiful and you finished it
VERY nicely too as well as the blade grind
and etch really adds a lot to the overall look

VERY COOL knife sir! now bend some leather :)
G2
 
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