A question for the Damascus makers

[Freds Edge]

I have a question as to the finish for damascus , do most polish to a bright finish after etch or do most leave the high light and dark contrast that results from the etch. If one decides to stay with the high light and dark contrast what is to stop the blade from easily being marked from ware.

 

[springer82]

Most,,, lol
I can only answer for me Fred. I clean my blade up in my bucket of water that is under my sander. Then give it a good soak with windex. Hit it with 1200 grit. Take it in the house and put in in a pan with warm water and instant coffee. Check my knife out on my 2nd sheath. Good luck.

https://knifedogs.com/threads/try-2.49405/

 

[springer82]

PS: It will ware Fred. There are more then a few threads on gun kote and other products like that.

 

[JeremyBartlett]

I etch in ferric to get some topography, then etch in coffee to get more contrast. To each thier own though, I just prefer more contrast...

 

[Mark Barone]

I etch in ferric to get some topography, then etch in coffee to get more contrast. To each thier own though, I just prefer more contrast...View attachment 67822

BEautiful. I'm interested in that technique. Do you sand after the coffee etching? How long do you let it etch for?

 

[Mark Barone]

Most,,, lol
I can only answer for me Fred. I clean my blade up in my bucket of water that is under my sander. Then give it a good soak with windex. Hit it with 1200 grit. Take it in the house and put in in a pan with warm water and instant coffee. Check my knife out on my 2nd sheath. Good luck.

https://knifedogs.com/threads/try-2.49405/

I checked it out. Did you use an acid etch before the coffee, or Did the coffee alone do it? It looks great.

 

[JeremyBartlett]

BEautiful. I'm interested in that technique. Do you sand after the coffee etching? How long do you let it etch for?

I have a very diluted ferric because it works better for hamons, probably 8 parts water to 1 part ferric, so my etch times are usually a little longer. I usually do 15 to 20 minutes in ferric, pull it out and sand the whole thing with a piece of 2500 grit sandpaper. Spray it with Windex to neutralize. Then wash it with hot water and Dawn then into tap hot instant coffee for 30 minutes or so. Once it comes out, spray it with windex to neutralize and wipe it off and it's done.

 

[springer82]

Retro,,, I etch in ferric first. It's a 3/1 mix. I'll let it etch for 20 minutes. After that it's about the same as Jeremy. I'll put about 10oz in a quart of hot water. Let it sit for an hour. Clean it up and call it good.

1 part FC/ 3 parts distilled water

 

[Freds Edge]

Thanks guys , I do a etch in 1-3 ferric chloride for 15mins then windex to neurralize and then a scrub in dish soap . I think I will add the coffee as I like coffee myself.