Etching

Ok, I've been wondering about this for awhile.

I've been playing with damascus for a couple of years and I noticed that almost everyone etches for only a few minutes to show the pattern. I like to etch for a long time, 30 to 40 minutes, this gives me a real deep etch that I can feel.

Here is my question, is there something wrong with this process? I find that my pattern never fades, my edge stays hard, I oil treat my blades while tempering so I never have a rust problem, so is there somthing I'm missing?

Mike

sounds like your getting the results you like --so i'm thinking --
if it ain't broke why fix it? although i am curious as to what other replies you'll get.

muriatic acid for 30 or 40 minutes sounds about right. Ferric Chloride for that long tends to pit the steel. If you're etches are turning out how you like them, then you're doing it right. If you're looking to cut the time it takes to etch, just warm up your etchant slightly (*and watch out for pitting*).

Maybe it's not you who's missing something.

What kind of oil do you treat your blades with?

I agree with Joe. Pitting is a problem with long etches in FeCl. It is not bad if the pattern is tight, like a tight twist. But a slow twist would show pitting pretty bad. Sometimes I etch in Muratic and then go to FeCl.

Don't change anything if you like your results.

I use ferric and yes I get the pitting but I usually use cable or a tight twist. To me the deep contrast between the darker pitted area and the higher polished area looks good.

Like most of you said if I'm happy with it and my customers like it I guess there is no reason to change. I was just wondering if there was a structural reason why this is not a more common practice.

BTW I use regular vegetable oil in a small pan and let it bake while tempering. I havn't had too much problem even with my all cable tools.

Mike

I use Feric Chloride, but I dilute it about 4 to 1. I get the Feric Chloride from Radio Shack and mix it with water in a 32oz plastic bottle.

I use this etch for a little under an hour. I adjust the time more or less depending on temp.


Scott Jaqua