What should I use for etching a clay hardened W 2 blade

Kyle Royer

Kyle Royer

Joined
Dec 6, 2006
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I am making my first clay hardened blade out of W 2 steel and was wondering if I should use Ferric Chloride, Muriatic acid or something ells. I am guessing that Muriatic acid would work good but I just wanted to know what you guys think I should use. Thanks Kyle Royer http://www.royerknifeworks.com
 
Go with ferric chloride with a 4 to 1 mix. Nitric will work but why use something that is a lot more dangerous. Even vinegar would work.
 
Kyle, I would go with the ferric, a 3 to1 or 4 to 1 mix, water to ferric. Make sure you get the blade squeaky clean before you etch. And bringing out the hamon does not require a long etch time, keep checking it until you get the hardened area black and the soft area a grey color.

Brion
 
BRTATCK said:
Kyle, I would go with the ferric, a 3 to1 or 4 to 1 mix, water to ferric. Make sure you get the blade squeaky clean before you etch. And bringing out the hamon does not require a long etch time, keep checking it until you get the hardened area black and the soft area a grey color.

Brion
Click to expand...

You will get a hamon that cannot be rubbed off with fine sandpaper no matter how hard you try in about 30 -60 seconds in ferric chloride...lol.
 
I use FC for most all etching. The longer the etch the darker and more even the result. Dilution is your friend. Vinegar &/or lemon juice also work well. I use muriatic for etching stainless damascus, and occasionally for severe etching, to give an ancient distressed look. I stopped using nitric and aqua regia a long time ago.
Stacy
 
Plain vinegar works but takes forever. If you can get it ferric chloride is good.

Although nitric can be safe if it becomes contaminated its unsafe. A few things found in your shop that can form unstable high explosives when they are in contact with nitric acid are lead, mercury, silver, cellulose (cotton, wood, ect.), glycerin, and certain chemicals found in glues. I'm not saying its wrong to use it, just that extra caution should be used because its worse to have nitric leaking rather than ferric or hydrochloric.

-Dan
 
I would go with the lemon and vinegar, because if you have too much you could get some olive oil and make a salad :D
 
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