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Main Boards => Hunting Knives and Crafters => Topic started by: Rick Enos on November 28, 2018, 03:10:14 PM

Title: How to etch damascus....
Post by: Rick Enos on November 28, 2018, 03:10:14 PM: Doing my first damascus blade...just hardened it and oil quench..I have to etch it to bring out the pattern..not sure what to use..how long and what to stop the etch....Thanks in advance...Its been a couple of years since ive been on here and forgot how to post pics....I have to say you couldn't see any pattern before I hardened the blade..It looks ok on the photographed side --not so good on the other side...
Title: Re: How to etch damascus....
Post by: luciusx5 on November 29, 2018, 03:08:12 PM: I use this. Ordered from Amazon. The bottle says ready to use but i mixed it 3:1. Three parts distilled water to one part Ferrique. Use distilled water. Tap water can have different chemicals in it that can kill the Ferrique. Measure your water and then add the Ferrique. Don't add the water to the Ferrique.

(https://i.postimg.cc/y62pjCgx/Ferrique.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/t4NDxqx5/bk7.jpg)
Title: Re: How to etch damascus....
Post by: Rick Enos on November 29, 2018, 06:36:39 PM: wow beautiful....how long in the acid----and what do you do when you take it out.....buff???????
Title: Re: How to etch damascus....
Post by: luciusx5 on November 29, 2018, 10:01:28 PM: Time depends on how black you want the blade and how deep you want the etch. I haven’t worked with Damascus much but I believe on this blade I did three or four rounds of about five minutes each. The blade was hand sanded to 800 grit then etched for five minutes. The blade was sprayed with Windex to stop the etching process. Don’t spray the windex around your etching solution. It will kill it. It was washed in hot water and dried after each round. After the etching process it was hand sanded again with 800 grit to bring out the silver. Some guys also soak the blade in coffee after etching to make the black, blacker. I haven’t tried that yet. Maybe on my next one. There are some very good YouTube videos that explains the process better than I have here.
Title: Re: How to etch damascus....
Post by: Rick Enos on November 30, 2018, 07:18:22 AM: I very much appreciate your time....Thanks....I just ordered some Ferric quench on amazon....
Title: Re: How to etch damascus....
Post by: Wampus on November 30, 2018, 06:24:24 PM: Radio Shack stores sell that as circuit board etchant. Unfortunately, our local RS closed.
Title: Re: How to etch damascus....
Post by: Rick Enos on December 01, 2018, 10:02:44 AM: Yes mine here in michigan just closed down...
Title: Re: How to etch damascus....
Post by: Rick Enos on December 01, 2018, 10:06:15 AM: One other quick question..Before I hardened the blade it was smooth & shinny as silk..no pattern what so ever..After I hardened it it looks
like the picture I posted on trad gang..do I completely re sand or leave it like it is before I etch..
Title: Re: How to etch damascus....
Post by: luciusx5 on December 01, 2018, 11:09:59 PM: Yes. After heat treat and temper sand to whatever grit you want the finished blade to be. I usually go to 800. The blade will be shiny and you probably won’t see the pattern. The etching will bring out the pattern.
Title: Re: How to etch damascus....
Post by: Rick Enos on December 02, 2018, 11:16:58 AM: Thank you you've been a big help....Rick