Making Ferric Chloride solution from Ferric Chloride Powder

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JoshAraujo

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Mar 28, 2016
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Ive never done etching before, and would like some simple advice

I bought Ferric Chloride powder from a store
What do I need to do to turn it into etching ready solution?
 
Ive never done etching before, and would like some simple advice

I bought Ferric Chloride powder from a store
what do I need to do to turn it into etching ready solution?
 
Usually Ferric Chloride is sold as a concentrated solutions often measured in a rather antiquated density measurement system called "Baume degrees" measured using a special hydrometer. Most people are more familiar with weight percent (xx percent solution) or specific gravity (mass per unit volume). The normal concentrated solution is around a 40 percent solution. If you dissolve 500 grams of Ferric Chloride powder in 1 liter of distilled water, this will give you a workable concentrated solution. I usually dilute this solution 4:1 with distilled water for etching steel. When diluting, add the concentrated solution to water slowly, as it also will get hot.

Word of Caution: Wear eye protection. Always add the powder to the water VERY SLOWLY, slowly stirring. This gets very HOT as it dissolves, so use an appropriate heat resistant container(not metal, PYREX is good). It is also very corrosive, so avoid splashing it on yourself or anything you care about.

Former Chemist here, I hope this helps. -Doug
 
Last edited:
Already done, best to have te topic moved rather than starting another thread. Merged.
 
This question comes up often.

Here is an older post I made on the subject:

FC should be mixed to make a 42 Baume stock solution. You add one pound of crystals to 18 ounces (weight) of water to get this strength - two pounds to one quart is close enough. Let it sit for a couple days. Dilute the working solution from this stock . Three parts water to one part stock is what I use ( that is the same as one pound to one gallon if not making a stock solution).
If you are just making up one gallon, skip the stock solution. If making up a larger batch, one gallon of stock solution is easier to store than four gallons of working solution.

Mix outdoors and don't breath the fumes ( chlorine gas - very bad) when it is dissolving. Wearing gloves and a face shield is a good safety practice. It will get hot while mixing if you don't add the powder slow ..... so add it slow. Mix in a heavy plastic tub. A 5 gallon dry-wall or pickle bucket is perfect.
 
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DougSeward said:
Usually Ferric Chloride is sold as a concentrated solutions often measured in a rather antiquated density measurement system called "Baume degrees" measured using a special hydrometer. Most people are more familiar with weight percent (xx percent solution) or specific gravity (mass per unit volume). The normal concentrated solution is around a 40 percent solution. If you dissolve 500 grams of Ferric Chloride powder in 1 liter of distilled water, this will give you a workable concentrated solution. I usually dilute this solution 4:1 with distilled water for etching steel. When diluting, add the concentrated solution to water slowly, as it also will get hot.

Word of Caution: Wear eye protection. Always add the powder to the water VERY SLOWLY, slowly stirring. This gets very HOT as it dissolves, so use an appropriate heat resistant container(not metal, PYREX is good). It is also very corrosive, so avoid splashing it on yourself or anything you care about.

Former Chemist here, I hope this helps. -Doug
Click to expand...

Wear gloves, "disposable ones, latex" while you do your last clean up of the blade before etching. I use windex. Rinse with water and then into the FC mix. I have 4" x 12" PVC tube with a cement end cap and a loose top endcap to seal the FC when not in use, The pvc tube is strapped to the work bench leg.

I know a maker that left the top off of his FC tube, Closed up his work shop and took his family on a week vacation in the heat of summer. It ruined a couple of Hundred bucks? or so of his steel stock with pitting etc..

This is a dangerous chemical. Make sure pets and kids can not get into it.:eek:

Stay Safe & haVE FUN!
 
No no, I know you mix it with water, I just didn't know ratio to use or any tips for it.
I'm not that much of an idiot
 
Thanks!
I tried some demo etching on some crap steel and it worked okay. I used acrylic paint as a mask to form the designs, but I find it doesn't make for very clean lines, the paint seems to fall off a little bit at the edges. What do you generally use? Nail polish?
 
My local store is out of stock so I had to buy the powder instead. Read different instructions but can someone give me advice in following , did I understand everything right:
So for example if I take 100 grams of powder I have to mix with 200 grams of water , then I take this 200 grams of water and mix with more water with 1:4 ratio?
Which means for 100grams sollution add 400 grams of water ?
 
Yes, if you are just mixing up a small batch, add the powder to the total water amount slowly while stirring. Run a fan or stay upwind of the fumes. It may get pretty warm, so go slow. Use a heavy polyethylene container. Store tightly capped and away from kids and pets.
 
Stacy, I followed your advice earlier in this thread. I had a 4 oz container of ferric chloride powder and I mixed it with a quart of water. Your advise in a previous post was 1 pound per gallon if not making a stock solution. I etched one knife in that so far and it seems really strong. Did I misinterpret your suggestion? Should I further dilute down my solution?
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
Yes, if you are just mixing up a small batch, add the powder to the total water amount slowly while stirring. Run a fan or stay upwind of the fumes. It may get pretty warm, so go slow. Use a heavy polyethylene container. Store tightly capped and away from kids and pets.
Click to expand...
So i got it right ? first mix 1:2 and then again 1:4 so totally adding water two times?
Yes I saw how to mix it and saw what happens what happens if added too much as well.
I have a sealed pipe with a hermetic pipe lid as well
 
If you are just mixing up 400ml, add the powder to the full amount of water. The stock solution is for people making up a larger amount and storing the stock solution .

Blackdirt - Are you etching damascus?
The stock solution ratio is 1# FC to a pint of water. Standard working solution is 1# FC to a half gallon water. Damascus etching is around 1# FC to between 1 and 2 gallons of water.
Your mix is 1# per gallon, which is regular working solution. Dilute your quart of solution with a quart or two of water for etching damascus.
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
If you are just mixing up 400ml, add the powder to the full amount of water. The stock solution is for people making up a larger amount and storing the stock solution .

Blackdirt - Are you etching damascus?
The stock solution ratio is 1# FC to a pint of water. Standard working solution is 1# FC to a half gallon water. Damascus etching is around 1# FC to between 1 and 2 gallons of water.
Your mix is 1# per gallon, which is regular working solution. Dilute your quart of solution with a quart or two of water for etching damascus.
Click to expand...

Yes I just need for solution ready for etching , so how much water do I add to 100gr powder?
 
OK, I broke down the math for you:
A 42° Baume stock solution of 1 pound FC per 180z (weight) water is 455 grams FC per 510ml water. That is .9 grams per ml, or 1 gram FC per 1.1ml water.
To make 100 grams FC stock solution would be 110 ml water.
To dilute that to a 1:3 ( stock to water) working solution, it would be 110 ml stock solution to 330 ml water.

So, to directly make the working solution, you use 100 grams FC powder to 440 ml water.
 
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