How do I heat-treat 440C/CPM-154 Damascus billet? My first round of etching went very well, good contrasting colors and an even etch, but since then my etches have been splotchy with very little contrast. Our first Etching Damasteel video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inzrn7kL-2UHere is more information about Damasteel and where to order it from. My question at the moment is, will hot vinegar ruin the temper on a knife? This prepares your steel for an even etch. Ferric chloride is not an "acid" per se. Step 1: Sanding Bring your Damascus to a 400 to 600 grit finish. The basic process is as follows: After heat treating, bring your Damascus to a 400 to 600 grit finish. 3:1, 4:1, or 5:1 distilled water to the FeCl are all commonly used dilutions. Never put acid on the microwave! If you are having trouble getting Ferric, try using Muriatic. Step 4: Mix the Etch Acid Put on your rubber gloves. It will corrode everything in sight and do a number on your lungs. How do I heat-treat 3V/CPM-154 Damascus billet? Is it just lots of jelly rolls mushed together? Buffing closes steel pores, which will keep the acid from getting it and will end with an unusual etch. Once your Damascus is sanded to the correct grit, thoroughly wash it with alcohol and pat dry with a clean rag. Like is itmore effective on a piece ground to 120, than one polished to 1000? Blotchiness in an etch is usually the result of oil somewhere in the system, either on the blade or in the etchant. Forseti Steel is a fairly new company that imports what appear to be high quality, handmade knives from Pakistan. But in Vegas Forge, they give that and more. How do I heat-treat my stainless Damascus after purchase? wow sounds like fun. Swishing the steel around in the etch to break up the bubbles is not a bad idea either. Before you begin, check the expiration date on your acid of choice to be sure that its not too old. All you have to do is add a scrap piece of iron or steel to the muriatic acid (or hydrochloric acid; same thing) and wait for it to dissolve. Essentially you forge weld 2 contrasting types of steel (I used 15N20 and 75Ni8) then manipulate it to make a pattern. Start very dilute, like 1:10 or 1:20. Bubbling air through it hastens the re-oxidation. Cleaning and Etching Concrete It easily dissolves the efflorescence on the concrete surface and removes other stains as well. Neutralize the acid and Lightly sand the oxides off with scotch bright or 2000/3000 grit sand paper and re etch (don't touch it with your fingers). thank will wait till summer then to try it. It will also make everything steel in the same room with it rust. Everyone has a slightly different dilution and technique. Muriatic Acid vs. Hydrochloric Acid . "Regular" ferric chloride tion for future etching. If you use muriatic acid, you can bring Damascus up to 1200 grit, or you can leave it 400 grit. As a major metal product on the market, strong power in Damascus is directly related to its quality. Very carefully pour your acid in, being sure not to cause any spills or splashes. Generally speaking, you want to be at about a 400 grit finish or better to get an even etch across the pattern. A Pocket Sundial From a Broken Pocket Watch! It needs to be heated on a hot plate or in a crock pot first. It does not contain phosphoric, hydrochloric or muriatic acid, yet works better, safer and faster. File away any burrs on the side of the steel you plan to etch with acid. Dont touch it with your hands. The articles on this site are for informational purposes only. It may not display this or other websites correctly. The keys are "pretty dilute" and "multiple, short immersions". https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdJMFMqnbLYqv965xd64vYg, https://www.etsy.com/shop/JStatesBladesmith. Each Damascus Steel ring is uniqueno two designs will look exactly alike. Michael, it's easier to add more acid and try again than make it too strong and over-etch. No, you'll be just fine etching after the heat treat process. Earn the Windex deep deep hole so that you can fully fill your Dutch item. I mix the Ferric Chloride 50/50 with distilled water. This small board took only 2 minutes. 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. No odor, no smell, not a skin irritant, non-corrosive. FORGE, Jan 1, 2014 #4 Icho- Staff Member Likes Received: 154 Trophy Points: 63 Thanks Forge. With clean water, dampen the surface to be etched. ethanknott, It is a matter of strength and timing. Hose down or dampen the entire area. You must log in or register to reply here. Toch in Damascus, it should be completely clean. I have cleaned with soap and water, acetone, etc. This steel had been produced for 11 centuries, and in just about a generation, the means of its manufacture was entirely lost. In fact, it is not. Before you begin, check the expiration date on your acid of choice to be sure that it's not too old. Wash your piece with alcohol and pat it dry with a clean rag. If you are having trouble getting Ferric, try using Muriatic. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. I've since settle on at 4-1 dilution, and overall etching a blade takes 45-60 mins. 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. 3D Printed Futuristic Space Age Wall Clock. I dont own any Damascus and this is my first, so is that normal? Uses of Muriatic acid 1. If you're using muriatic acid, you can bring the Damascus up to 1200 grit, or you can leave it at 400 grit. 03-25-2007, 09:56 PM. Using expired acids creates problems with your etching, and you do not want to get it after you have started your acute too old to work properly. Can you etch Damascus steel with muriatic acid? For Sale: Custom & Semi Production Knives (Dealer), KnifeMaker's Market: Knives & More for Sale, Wanted: Knifemaker / Craftsman / Related Services, Busse / Swamprat / Scrapyard Knives For Sale, For Sale: Traditionals, Slipjoints, "Old Timey", International (Non-US) For Sale & Trade Forums. Such is what I measured from home; it's typically advertised as 30%-32%. A place for all things chef knives. 7. Don't use a metal container acid can corrode many metals, leading to the possible destruction of the container. Can you etch Damascus steel with muriatic acid? Acid is generally mixed at a ratio of 3 parts water to 1 part acid for sufficient strength to etch properly. Actually, the process of efflorescence removal discussed above also etches the masonry. [save-account-details-nonce] => Will this stuff like sit in a jar without eating the jar? For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Professional Strength 31.45% HCL (Muriatic Acid), excellent for pH reduction in swimming pools or to clean and etch masonry surfaces, excellent for pH reduction in all commercial and residential pools.Find the ACID MURIATIC GAL at Ace. There are significant risks to health and body including maiming and even death. Mix cup of baking soda with 1-2 quarts of water and spray the muriatic acid to neutralize it. In the video linked above, YouTuber TheSmokinApe acid-etches an ESEE blade with Frenchs mustard. Box 71092Springfield, OR 97475. 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. Tom, diluting muriatic doesn't make ferric chloride, no. to 2 parts Hydrogen Peroxide (the common 3% kind that's sold in dollar stores & drugstores for $0.50 a pint) Warning!!!!! Bring your Damascus at the end of grit 400 to 600. ), Copyright 2012 - 2020 American Bladesmith Society | All Rights Reserved, Bill Moran School of Bladesmithing at Texarkana College. Aside from being beautiful, Damascus steel is valued because it maintains a keen edge, yet is hard and flexible. Fill a glass jar with enough ferric chloride to cover the metal part. Put the holes on both sides or you'll get a bar with raindrop on one side and random on the other. What is the black coating on knife blades? The acid etching will need to be done outside or in a well-ventilated area, and you should wear rubber gloves and goggles from here on out. Dampen the surface to be etched with clean water. 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. I've been there before.. The blade pattern is nice but no matter how I sand, black oxides keep rubbing off. Report. Hang your Damascus piece in the warm acid so that it hangs freely and doesnt touch the sides or bottom of the container. This pattern is not the result of forge welding and folding as in pattern welded swords but rather because the chemical composition of the original billet. " View all products of Market Price & Insight. You can also use it to clean soot from fireplace bricks. Before you begin, check the expiration date on your acid of choice to be sure that it's not too old. Damascus etching is completed with either ferric chloride or muriatic acid. No matter how effective it is. Leave the copper blank in the solution for at least half an hour. You can repeat 5 and 6 steps for a deep etch if you wish. Either is effective. Put on the goggles and vinyl gloves before mixing the chemicals. Damascus etching is completed with either ferric chloride or muriatic acid. hey guys, i used the lovely search function with pretty much no results. Make sure the blade is clean and free of oil and grease before continuing. You can do this by first mixing a small solution in your watering can starting at a 5:1 ratio. Apply it to a small area of wet concrete. How do you make ferric chloride etching solution? Vinegar is a pretty weak etch and it helps to use it hot. Whats the proper technique for etching Damascus? The only step I did not do was the boil in baking soda. What is the Best 2x72 Grinder if you had the money? I frequently etch damascus with ferric chloride. JavaScript is disabled. Muriatic acid is diluted hydrochloric acid; it should be handled with extreme care. It can also be used to remove soot from firebricks. Very clean. Vegas Forge. 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. If not, dip it in the acetone (see lovely photo) then repeat the previous step until you're happy. Muriatic acid; Baking soda for neutralizing the acid; pH test strips . There are five distinctive patterns from which to choose. If you want a deeper etch, repeat steps 5 and 6. Damascus Steel the two give much different results. I assume I need to set the oxides but can I still do that weeks later? Be sure to always wear the appropriate protective gear when youre working with acid. Don't mess with muriatic acid! I'm not going to cover how to make damascus steel, there's lots of information online and it's pretty simple. [_wpnonce] => I was wondering about the thoughts of cold or rust blui Requests: Array Apparently this neutralises the piece as well as helping to set the oxides. If you have hidden part of your bacteria so that it does not keep, and you want to do some part of acids and baking soda, completely remove the mask, clean the blade, and then use your mask before the second etch. Etching Damascus - Mike Carter demonstrates how to acid etch Damascus knife blades to reveal the pattern in the steel; The iron will start reacting with the acid to produce hydrogen gas and ferrous chloride. Complete etches in a well ventilated space and wear gloves, eye protection, and an apron or old clothes. Damascus steel is a famed type of steel recognizable by the watery or wavy light and dark pattern of the metal. Do not buff before etching! Swishing the steel around in the etch to break up the bubbles is not a bad idea either. I degrease with multiple wipes of acetone on new paper towels each time, but some guys prefer dish soap and water or alcohol. For example: "You can also use Windex with this step, but do not try to break your piece. When someone feels their ferric chloride batch has "gone bad", you can add a tablespoon or so of muriatic acid and regenerate it. Rinse the floor thoroughly, squeegee away puddles, allow floor to dry. 8. Then etch it to make the pattern visible. Remove your Damascus piece from acids and throw it to your baking board for 5 minutes to reduce acids. Chaotic Neutral: Give me liberty, or receive death. By Chemistry, Martial Arts, Mathematics, Woodworking, and Hot Steel, http://www.geraldboggs.com">www.geraldboggs.com. It will certainly freeze being significantly water. Radio Shack sells it online as PCB Etchant.