How to acid etch a knife blade

C

chuck27p

Joined
Dec 16, 2015
Messages
7
Hey guys, I'm new to knife making. I've managed to make a pretty nice handle and I'm doing a svord friction folder. the blade is carbon steel. i'd like to do a nice design on the blade -- i've been thinking about acid etching or patina. Attached is what i'm trying to achieve, I'm just not sure how to do it. It appears to be acid etching. Is there a way to do acid etching with vinegar and nail polish, I find conflicting information online. Anyways, since I'm new to this, I'd love some advice or to be pointed in the right direction. Thanks!

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Hi Chuck,

Post this in Shop Talk forums and you will get immediate responces. Many talented makers there who can give you some direction.

Welcome aboard, Fred
 
You can get a design with vinegar, but no depth. Many makers use ferric chloride for etching patterns. Nitric acid is what professional etchers generally use.
 
Thanks! Ok, so if I use ferric chloride, from what I can find online I don't need to heat it up and I can use nail polish to create my design. Right? Can I reuse the solution if I'm only using it for the blade?

If I want to use vinegar, do I need a certain type (white vs. apple) and do I need to heat it up? Would I still use nail polish to create my design before I put it into the vinegar?

Thanks a ton!
 
Heat will make the reaction time faster with any acid. Vinegar is a weak acid, so yes-heat it. Most shelf vinegars are 5% acidity. It doesn't matter which one you use.
I wouldn't heat ferric or nitric.
Nail polish should work as a resist.
 
Jens Schuetz said:
How long should he let the polish dry? I had acid creep under it in the past.
Click to expand...

After about five minutes, it's about as dry as it's going to get. I wouldn't count on total clean edges. Some of the edges will be "clean" while others may appear to have "bled." That's my experience anyway.
 
i etched my first blade and it come out pretty cool. it seems like etching sort of dulls the blade with a gray-ish tint. I like it, but what other methods can I use to give is a chrome shine so it pops more, right now it feels a bit flat.

MINE
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Etching won't polish a blade.
The blade has to be polished beforehand, and the etching dulls it where the etchant touches it.
 
Yeah, got it. Any other methods to create a 3D type etch without the dullness of etching (the first picture I posted seems to pop more than my etching, which kind of dulled things)?

I'm happy with the etching, and I think I have some ideas on playing around with it, the time it sits in the solution, etc., but I'm also curious about any other methods.

Thanks!
 
You could etch deep patterns into the blade which will stay once you polish it shiny. Electro etching would be best for that.
 
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