recently started etching my blades with acid.. seems most of you are using nail polish to coat the areas you dont want etched but when i put it in the muriatic acid the nail polish started to bubble and the entire blade is etched instead just the area i wanted... any advice on types of nail polish? dilution? methods? etc..
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acid etch using muriatic acid? need help...!
- Thread starter kahukai00
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BellaBlades
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Deadly stuff. I hope you protect your lungs. It fumes a lot, try adding water, the e bottle should say how to safely dilute. Or try the natural eco version.
Muriatic acid is actually pretty safe, the fumes are noxious but not particularly dangerous assuming that you leave as soon as you feel light headed etc. Use a diluted solution and make sure the nail polish has time to dry. If you literally polish the area the nail polish will be on, it will work better, as the acid etches it can work its way under the polish, though i suspect yours wasn't completely dry. It can be done though, I happen to like the etch muriatic acid does, and after a stone washing I think it looks pretty cool :thumbup: here's a little bushcrafter I did.
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I haven't done any acid etching but ferric chloride seems to be the popular choice. Maybe you'd have better luck with that.
Muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid) is certainly not safe though in general. It is extremely corrosive and the liquid and fumes can cause severe burns of the skin, eyes, and respiratory system.
Read the msds, work outside or in a very well ventilated area, and use proper ppe.
When you're diluting acid, do not add water to it. Pour the water first and always add acid to the water.
This is not directed at you specifically kahukai, I just wouldn't want someone to see this thread and use muriatic acid without the proper precautions.
Muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid) is certainly not safe though in general. It is extremely corrosive and the liquid and fumes can cause severe burns of the skin, eyes, and respiratory system.
Read the msds, work outside or in a very well ventilated area, and use proper ppe.
When you're diluting acid, do not add water to it. Pour the water first and always add acid to the water.
This is not directed at you specifically kahukai, I just wouldn't want someone to see this thread and use muriatic acid without the proper precautions.
I don't disagree with your safety precautions, and eyewear especially is a must, but muriatic acid is really quite a lot less dangerous that other acids. Acetic acid would be a better choice, but with proper techniques, muriatic acid isn't terribly dangerous. Certainly no where near sulfuric acid. HCL is irritating and burning, but slow and dilutes quickly, and is easy to wash from skin. Chemical rated gloves are a must though, because it does readily devour an awful lot of plastics.
SVTFreak
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Keep in mind, HCl, muratic acid, also eats stainless steel almost as fast as carbon (I make the shit, unfortunately).
PPE suggestions are good. Use an organic vapor respirator and goggles to keep the fumes out of your eyes. Fumes will irritate skin that is damp, not so much dry skin. Cutting it with water as described above will lessen fuming and slow it's reaction. "Do as you oughtta, add acid to watah (water)" (even though we do exactly opposite when absorbing it, but we have means to control the heat of absorption).
PPE suggestions are good. Use an organic vapor respirator and goggles to keep the fumes out of your eyes. Fumes will irritate skin that is damp, not so much dry skin. Cutting it with water as described above will lessen fuming and slow it's reaction. "Do as you oughtta, add acid to watah (water)" (even though we do exactly opposite when absorbing it, but we have means to control the heat of absorption).
Keep in mind also that using that acid in an unventilated (as in forced ventilation) area will almost always result in anything that is made of steel that comes in contact with any of the evaporated acid (vapor) to rust nearly instantly. So basically anything in about a 6 foot radius around your work area if you're not using some type of ventilation hood.