Bring out the pattern in damascus
- Thread starter Toole
- Start date
Dip it in ferric chloride is most common I think. It's available at some Radio Shacks as circuit board etchant or in powder form from on line suppliers. Mix 3 parts distilled water to 1 part ferric. Soak the blade for a couple minutes at a time, wipe it down (not aggessively), soak again until you get the look you want. When it's done...I spray it down with Windex to neutralise the etchant. Rubber gloves are a must and don't leave the open container in your shop for long periods of time, the fumes will rust everything and they just aren't good for you. Use the search function on any search engine, you'll find out more than you wanted to know about it. Be safe.
Rudy
Rudy
You're welcome, but.....
There's a bit more to it than that and I wouldn't be able to sleep tonight if I didn't tell you. After you've neutralised the blade and cleaned it (not aggressively), you'll want to go over all the exposed areas of the blade with a high grit sand paper (I use 2000+) very lightly to bring out the high spots for more contrast. IF it's a deep etch, I also give it a wipe with cold blue to darken the low spots then hit the high spots with 2000 paper. Just to give you an idea.
Rudy
There's a bit more to it than that and I wouldn't be able to sleep tonight if I didn't tell you. After you've neutralised the blade and cleaned it (not aggressively), you'll want to go over all the exposed areas of the blade with a high grit sand paper (I use 2000+) very lightly to bring out the high spots for more contrast. IF it's a deep etch, I also give it a wipe with cold blue to darken the low spots then hit the high spots with 2000 paper. Just to give you an idea.
Rudy
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HHH Knives
Super Moderator
Well played Rudy! 