Use a sprayer or watering container to distribute the acid, scrubbing in as needed. After being etched the blank can be polished to give a stepped or contrasting look. Aside from being beautiful, Damascus steel is valued because it maintains a keen edge, yet is hard and flexible. You are using an out of date browser. To the iron add 100mL of water and 100mL of 12M hydrochloric acid. The reason it disappeared remained a mystery until just a few years ago. [woocommerce-edit-address-nonce] => 4 years ago Muriatic acid needs no dilution. Wash the black oxide off between immersions and perhaps brush lightly with non-abrasive kitchen Scotchbrite or 800 grit paper. Ferric and Muriatic Acids work on Damascus Steels but will give 2 drastically different results. Step 4: Mix the Etch Acid Put on your rubber gloves. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdJMFMqnbLYqv965xd64vYg, https://www.etsy.com/shop/JStatesBladesmith. Do not change before creativity! It does not contain phosphoric, hydrochloric or muriatic acid, yet works better, safer and faster. Then etch it to make the pattern visible. I played with the hot vinegar, didnt like it. Dampen the surface to be etched with clean water. Can you etch Damascus steel with muriatic acid? Dilute by adding 1 part of Muriatic acid to 10 parts of water or 1 cup of acid per liter. You can use some 2000 grit sandpaper at this stage to very lightly sand it to bring out the shine on the shiny steel. Etching is used to make circuit boards, where a thin copper sheet is selectively dissolved away to form a path for electricity. on Step 8. The key is to have the knife sanded and finished properly, then etch, then neutralize, then only VERY lightly sand it just enough and stop. Pour 1 part acid into 10 parts water to make an acid solution. Posts: 199. Certain non-acids that form acid in water, such as ferric chloride (FeCl3) or copper sulfate (CuSO4), can also be used as etching chemicals. It fumes a lot (toxic) and the fumes will rust everything in your shop. Warm your acid to room temperature. Yet another reason to prefer ferric chloride. Complete etches in a well ventilated space and wear gloves, eye protection, and an apron or old clothes. In terms of polish: I go to 220 grit on a random orbit sander (the regular electric kind you get from Lowes or Home Depot). Everything you need to know about ChatGPT. Free delivery and returns on eligible orders. In a large nonmetallic bowl or container, mix 1 part hydrochloric acid with 2 parts hydrogen peroxide. When you are happy with how deep the etch is and have done the final scrubbing, dip it in the acetone, allow to dry then give it another 3 minutes or so in the acid to get the final finish. American Bladesmith Society bladesmiths represent the cutting edge of forged blade performance and design on six continents. High quality Damascus steel is not the strongest metal you can get. Ferric Acid will result in a double grey pattern (dark and light grey pattern) on either a matte or polished finish. We are exploring additional options of engraving and will let you know when those are available. The etching solution is made by adding 1 part Muriatic Acid (the common kind that's sold in hardware stores, about $5.00 gal.) The iron will start reacting with the acid to produce hydrogen gas and ferrous chloride. The muriatic is available at big box home improvement stores or pool supply stores. It is AWESOME. Fill in the etches in good. It is the readers responsibility to seek out qualified instruction and to research all the health and safety risks involved and take the proper precautions associated with this activity. Vinegar is a pretty weak etch and it helps to use it hot. Hydrochloric acid is a purer and more toxic form of muriatic acid. If youre using ferric chloride, dilute your acid with distilled water. Muriatic Acid vs. Hydrochloric Acid Etching with muriatic acid and hydrogen peroxide Flash001USA 9.59K subscribers 87K views 9 years ago This video covers etching circuit boards with a mixture of muriatic acid and hydrogen. We are limited on the number of characters that can be used as the knives vary in size. Etching Concrete: The Process. The articles on this site are for informational purposes only. It is. This prepares your steel for an even etch. Our first Etching Damasteel video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inzrn7kL-2UHere is more information about Damasteel and where to order it from. Reputable Member Journeyman Bladesmith (5yr) 3:1, 4:1, or 5:1 distilled water to the FeCl are all commonly used dilutions. [save-account-details-nonce] => No need to go full strength to get results. Forseti Steel is a fairly new company that imports what appear to be high quality, handmade knives from Pakistan. That is why I recommended you dilute the HCl way down with water, Michael. Question A place to talk about the use, maintenance, and acquisition of any In fact, it is not. How do I heat-treat 440C/CPM-154 Damascus billet? Mix an acid solution by pouring 1 part acid into 10 parts water. Hotter vinegar = deeper etch, but can the vinegar be too hot? Muriatic acid is a powerful and corrosive acidic liquid made from hydrochloric acid, water, and other trace minerals. Etching Damascus - Mike Carter demonstrates how to acid etch Damascus knife blades to reveal the pattern in the steel; Can you etch Damascus steel with muriatic acid? Each Damascus Steel ring is uniqueno two designs will look exactly alike. My question at the moment is, will hot vinegar ruin the temper on a knife? -----------------------------------------------"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. Step 1: The Requirements of Steel Etching: Ferric chloride Plastic container Distilled water Etch resist/stencil Acetone Cotton swabs and/or Q-tips Paperclip and/or dental floss Rubber gloves High grit dry/wet steel wool or sandpaper Step 2: Preparation of Etching Components The most important step in this whole process is preparation. Swishing the steel around in the etch to break up the bubbles is not a bad idea either. Coffee Etching Damascus Steel | Knife Making How To/Tip. Thank you Kevin. It is a corrosive salt. Don't use a metal container acid can corrode many metals, leading to the possible destruction of the container. The difference between steel metals creates those different ways, especially when used again. Once you're all ready, you're ready to pick up! Should I dilute ferric chloride for etching? Box 71092Springfield, OR 97475. [woocommerce-reset-password-nonce] => Thanks for the tips. I know the website says not to mix it but we're also not using it to make custom circuit boards Here is a link to some interesting information regarding concentrations Toss the PCB into the solution and itll take off. hey guys, i used the lovely search function with pretty much no results. thank will wait till summer then to try it. Step 2. The keys are "pretty dilute" and "multiple, short immersions". Ive started working on damascus recently, and I know that ferric chloride is the way to go for etchant, but until I can get some I've been using vinegar just to get an idea of my patterns and such. If this is the first time youre using this batch of solution (and I presume it is), itll etch super-fast. Etching acids can range from powerful hydrochloric or sulfuric acid to much weaker acids even household vinegar, citrus fruit, or mustard can be used effectively. Muriatic acid acts like liquid sandpaper by roughening the surface of the concrete. Toch in Damascus, it should be completely clean. It looks beautiful, I figured it'd have to be more complicated, You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. It can also be used to remove soot from firebricks. It may not display this or other websites correctly. We have Added Apple Pay, Google Pay & Facebook Pay to our check out. As a major metal product on the market, strong power in Damascus is directly related to its quality. If you need to warm your acids to be used, the best way to place your acids container is in a large amount of warm water. Could have probably pypassed this step: dumped 1/2 gallon of phosphoric in the tank and sloshed it around with the cap shut and stoppers in. From his going on, they have respected their way of access, guided their response, expanded their product line and re-evaluated their unique iDascation process. Lol. When someone feels their ferric chloride batch has "gone bad", you can add a tablespoon or so of muriatic acid and regenerate it. Adding HCl acid can restore the cutting ability of the FeCl3. The liquid kind needs to be cut with four times as much water as there is ferric, the dry kind you just add five times more water than the instructions call far. placeholder="Leave a comment" onpropertychange="this.style.height=this.scrollHeight + 'px'" oninput="this.style.height=this.scrollHeight + 'px'">. The concentration from such sources is typically ~8.9M, or 32% (by mass). Muriatic acid; Baking soda for neutralizing the acid; pH test strips . Start very dilute, like 1:10 or 1:20. Whats the proper technique for etching Damascus? Removing this step is notified, even though your tailor seems good because the acid is in the middle of the second and eliminates your design. You can make a reasonable facsimile of ferric by dissolving steel wool in muriatic acid. In your well-ventilated area, mix together one part muriatic acid to two parts hydrogen peroxide in a container thats big enough to fit the whole blade. [woocommerce-edit-address-nonce] => It is done by submerging the blade in an acid. Wash your piece with alcohol and pat it dry with a clean rag. Wait for the acid to react with the slab surface. Never use tap water, spring water, or filtered water - all will cause problems etc. Damascus etching is completed with either ferric chloride or muriatic acid. Do not change before creativity! Michael, it's easier to add more acid and try again than make it too strong and over-etch. We've made your buy experience less painful. Does muriatic acid etch metal? Then I remembered I'd been thinking of switching to re-usable etchant, created on the bench using muriatic acid (the store name for hydrochloric acid, HCl, used for cleaning swimming pools). No matter how effective it is. [woocommerce-reset-password-nonce] => How do I heat-treat my stainless Damascus after purchase? The higher the dilution of the ferric, the slower it will etch, and the better/clean the etch will come out within reason. In other words, it is a mixture of ferric and cupric chlorides that is renewable effectively forever. Neutral Good: Clean blood cannot be washed off. It's not the only way. Makes the material look like carbon steel Damascus. When etching Damascus steel, it is important to use an acid specifically formulated for this purpose. The knife in the photo had 3 ten minute dips. They dedicate their customers to the unique inspired world patterns around us, for example, raindrops, razor cords, and baskets. The strength of the acid generally determines how quickly the steel will be etched, the stronger the acid, the faster the process. As soon as you're done, oil it. That's where I just got a bottle, $14.59 for a quart. Weapons made from Damascus steel are vastly superior to weapons formed from iron! The hydrogen peroxide acts as an oxidizer allowing the acid to eat away the copper. Sorry for the repeat. It also reduces the surface alkalinity of the concrete that can cause some paints to adhere poorly. Vegas Forge. this makes Ferris chloride, you need to add hydrogen peroxide to convert to ferric , go slow in an over large container is is an energetic reaction the ferris will be a green color, add peroxide until it turns brown and it is ferric, add distilled water until it etches nicely. Ferric chloride is one of the most widely used etchants in the field of chemical etching. Mix cup of baking soda with 1-2 quarts of water and spray the muriatic acid to neutralize it. 3:1, 4:1, or 5:1 distilled water to the FeCl are all commonly used dilutions. Congratulations on your progress. -- Theodore Roosevelthttp://stephensforge.com. Etching is done by exposing the cleaned and polished specimen surface to suitable etching solution such as those described in Table 1. How do you make ferric chloride etching solution? [_wpnonce] => This is for academic purposes only and should not be considered in any way a thorough instruction on this subject. Beyond that it's a matter of experimentation. Apparently this neutralises the piece as well as helping to set the oxides. ( on Step 8. My favorite supplier of muriatic acid is any place that carries pool supplies. Report. This goes with us, but it produces remarkable visibility, and it's good to fix your pieces of photos. Is it possible to etch Damascus with muriatic acid? Generally speaking, you want to be at about a 400 grit finish or better to get an even etch across the pattern. Chemistry, Martial Arts, Mathematics, Woodworking, and Hot Steel, http://www.geraldboggs.com">www.geraldboggs.com. Muriatic acid is diluted hydrochloric acid; it should be handled with extreme care. Technically, most of the time, we laser etch the knife if lasering on the blade, and engrave it on the wood handle (if the knife has a wood handle). ", Damascus's sleeves, guns, and other metallic pieces become more popular as artists and regain their art. Wet down the surface to be cleaned, using a sponge or a sprayer and allow the acid . For etching, you'll find a confusing array of products, including standard muriatic acid as well as products such as Klean-Strip Green Muriatic Acid ($7.84 per gallon at Home Depot) and. I've been there before.. This is commonly sold in home improvement stores and pool supply stores in gallon jugs. i can't wait to mess with it. It's known as muriatic acid and is sold in bulk at pool-supply and home-improvement stores. There are five distinctive patterns from which to choose. Ideally you want to test the strength needed first before doing the entire floor. After 10 minutes take it out and give it a quick dip in the bucket of water. Put the holes on both sides or you'll get a bar with raindrop on one side and random on the other. (Add the acid to the water, not water to acid, for safety reasons.) Clean the blade. As many Damascus wars come from the market, consumers and new consumers in this matter want to know: Damascus is a solid iron? Then on the last etch , take it out, neutralize the acid without touching the blade, rinse with cold sater, dry the blade with compressed air (I use dust off) and oil . You can do this by first mixing a small solution in your watering can starting at a 5:1 ratio. In our last etching video, linked below, we ended up using ferric chloride and then sulfuric acid, which didn't give the best results. rideable.org is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. I have cleaned with soap and water, acetone, etc. A standard strength for a careful etch on copper is 42 baume, above this and the ferric will etch more slowly as the solution is viscous. Don't touch it with your hands. No idea if I'm doing something wrong or if its just part of using vinegar ir if I'm just bad at putting metal into liquids. is mesquite good handle material and or scabbard materiel. There are lots of ways and if they work they are correct. The nice folks at Forseti have their own quality assurance system in place, and they design many of the more interesting knives in their catalog. Everyone has a slightly different dilution and technique. Even polishing hard will remove the pattern. Buy NANFANG BROTHERS Damascus Kitchen Knife Set, 14 Pieces Japanese Knife Set Kitchen Knife Set with Block Wooden, 67 Layers VG10 Damascus Steel Chef Knife Set with Sharpener, Sharp Blades at Amazon UK. A place for all things chef knives. Dilute it about 4:1 water to acid. The best quality Damascus does not end. Tweet. Remember to wear safety goggles and gloves at all times. Put on the goggles and vinyl gloves before mixing the chemicals. For example, you would use 1 cup of the acid to mix with 2 cups of the peroxide. Now we're using muriatic acid and loving it. Damascus Knife Blank Acid Etching Etching of Damascus is done after manufacturing or grinding of the blank to bring out the contrasting steel patterns. Dissolve enough iron in ityes. If you add additional HCl, the etching solution eventually (after many PCB's) becomes mostly cupric chloride, which is also an excellent etchant. The only step I did not do was the boil in baking soda. Ive never gotten a uniform etch on an HI khuk, even when soaking the blade completetly in the solution. Yes. Share Save Helvetica Comment CaiLei 3 years ago Follow It is an ultra high carbon steel that achieved liquid state which should, theoretically, allow you to get a homogeneous steel product with equal carbon distribution and no slag inclusions at all. Phone Number: 541-684-4623E-mail: info@rideable.orgMailing Address:P.O. A Pocket Sundial From a Broken Pocket Watch! Don't mess with muriatic acid! Each time acid is added, it will eat away at the travertine. The stronger the acid, the more damage will be done. Remove the Damascus from the acid and dip it in a bath of baking soda and distilled water to neutralize the acid. I did a simple twist as I like the way it looks. What is the Best 2x72 Grinder if you had the money? Ferric Chloride is an iron "salt" of HCl that is nonetheless very acidic, though not as "strong" as HCl. Warm acid gives a much faster etch, but then you get less time to control what's happening. It is in a greatly reduced concentration compared to the 30% hydrochloric acid (muriatic acid). The one thing you DO NOT want when etching Damascus is "fast"..that always equals a poor etch. I just etched my first Damascus blade. The HCL (hydrochloric acid) is commonly used in a diluted form called Muriatic Acid for PH balancing in pools. My problem here is that I've had some really inconsistent results with the vinegar. What kind of places sell ferric chloride? Add your Damascus clip to an acoustic container so that it can be released freely and not touch the sides or bottom of the container. Blotchiness in an etch is usually the result of oil somewhere in the system, either on the blade or in the etchant. You can also use Windex with this step, but do not try to break your piece. . Step 1: What You Need Some damascus steel Etchant - Ferric Chloride (strength 42 baume) Distilled water Acetone Glass or plastic containers Extra fine (000) steel wool Wire (to hang piece in acid) Bucket of water Rubber gloves Baking soda oil (I used olive oil as the knife will be used on food) Ask Question Comment Step 2: Clean Such is what I measured from home; it's typically advertised as 30%-32%. So less about etching and more about patterns, how does one make raindrop damascus? Is the pattern deep enough? Mix your Ferric Chloride 1 part to 3 parts of distilled water and put in suitable container. Be extra careful at this stage not to touch it! View all products of Market Price & Insight. This product is a very strong acid that will clean dried cement products off stones, bricks, and other masonry surfaces. Making stuff, hunting, rock climbing, philosophy, general adventure seeker. This comes pre-diluted, but I am not sure what the dilution rate is. The When it comes to finish work, addition of the muriatic acid keeps Berthelot recommends sanding the copper from looking blurry, and to at least a clean 600 grit prior to keeps the material out of the solu-etching. Muratic acid is really not the stuff to use for etching especially inside your house or workshop. It is an ultra high carbon steel that achieved liquid state which should, theoretically, allow you to get a homogeneous steel product with equal carbon distribution and no slag inclusions at all. If you use muriatic acid, you can bring Damascus up to 1200 grit, or you can leave it 400 grit. I do Oh well, looks like another one for the personal collec Thats one of them there corner daggers Ken Fong FORGE, Jan 1, 2014 #4 Icho- Staff Member Likes Received: 154 Trophy Points: 63 Thanks Forge. Advice? In masonry work, etching is a way to chemically clean and prepare masonry for repair or painting. Bought some muriatic acid and hydrogen peroxide, did a mix of 1 muriatic to 2 hydrogen p. Works great, happy with it, now what do i do with it? So, your foliate results arent a surprise. We use a laser engraver to engrave on the Damascus steel. Other, safer products are available for etching concrete and should be used . Add clean, clear water to a plastic bucket. Ferric and Muriatic Acids work on Damascus Steels but will give 2 drastically different results. Muriatic acid is also less potent because it's diluted with water (usually around 31.5 percent HCl) and contains impurities like iron. The blade pattern is nice but no matter how I sand, black oxides keep rubbing off. You can get an even etch if it's random. ), Server: Array Eliminates the need to use harsh chemicals, provides a safer work enviornment . Never put acid in the microwave! Damascus etching is completed with either ferric chloride or muriatic acid. No matter how effective it is. Mix this stuff 4:1 with distilled water. Make sure the blade is clean and free of oil and grease before continuing. Fill a glass jar with enough ferric chloride to cover the metal part. To clean and etch concrete, mix one part muriatic acid to 10 parts water. A short emersion (2-3 minutes) in diluted ferric chloride will show the pattern without etching too deep. Place your board to be etched in your new solution and watch it go! It is a common mistake that when you work with Damascus, the risk of extinction - the layers of separation - is just what you should do. Ive etched a couple of blades using lemon + lime juice and varying dilutions of vinegar. Etching of Damascus is done after manufacturing or grinding of the blank to bring out the contrasting steel patterns. It will also make everything steel in the same room with it rust. It will certainly freeze being significantly water. I mix the Ferric Chloride 50/50 with distilled water. Let your piece remain in acids for 10 to 15 minutes. etching is completed with chloride with ferric or muriatic acid. thanks for advice does ferric acid freeze. Buffing closes steel pores, which will keep the acid from getting it and will end with an unusual etch. Do not buff before etching! Take a high-layer bar and press it between dies that have been drilled full of almost-touching holes, then grind the resulting bumps off. How long does ferric chloride take to etch? Muriatic acid quickly dissolves efflorescence from concrete surfaces, and it removes other stains as well. It will corrode everything in sight and do a number on your lungs. Acid Etch: Disassemble your knife, and thoroughly clean and dry the part you're going to etch (blade, handle, or clip). Also the finish can basically be removed with a dry cloth. Chaotic Neutral: Give me liberty, or receive death. Dunk it in the acetone again then allow to dry. to 2 parts Hydrogen Peroxide (the common 3% kind that's sold in dollar stores & drugstores for $0.50 a pint) Warning!!!!! Following. bladesmithsforum.com In the video linked above, YouTuber TheSmokinApe acid-etches an ESEE blade with Frenchs mustard. It is in a greatly reduced concentration compared to the 30% hydrochloric acid (muriatic acid). I degrease with multiple wipes of acetone on new paper towels each time, but some guys prefer dish soap and water or alcohol. Before you begin, check the expiration date on your acid of choice to be sure that it's not too old. wow sounds like fun. Michael, my advise would be to dilute it down subtantially with distilled water. The hardware store wasn't going to be very helpful in the middle of the night and I was about to put it all off to the next day when I realized I didn't actually care about how the etching was done . Collectors should ensure to keep their blades clean and dry to avoid rust or staining. The "active ingredient" in ferric chloride solution is hydrochloric acid. If you decide that you want to reverse one another, you can also make a quick frame by placing your teaspoon refined in acid for a few minutes and then entering a baking soda.