Where to get Ferric Clhoride?

Darbyfett

Darbyfett

Joined
May 1, 2007
Messages
788
I want to etch a Damascus hawk head, and I don't know where to get ferric chloride. I know my local radio shacks don't have it. And I would rather not pay the $20 HazMat fee, anyone know a good online source for (preferably) powdered FeCl? Thanks!

edit: Also, I don't really need all that much, so maybe a place that sells small quantities?
 
Actually you dont have to use ferric acid to etch steel. This is my personal recipe and I get a gallon or 2 for under $10.00 US. You can get a good etchant at your local grocery store. Use a 50/50 mix of white/cider vinegar and 100% lemon juice, use an old plastic tub or plastic coffee can to hold it, completly submerge what you want etched and let it set over night, no more than 24 hours though!!! My uncle once left a case knife in a bath of just white vinigar for 2 weeks, When he remembered it, and went and fished it out, the edge was almost completely eaten away. It looked serrated it was eaten so badly.

It Works Great! takes a little more time than ferric acid but you dont have to worry about poisoning anything accidently though either.
 
J.S. Carter said:
.......Actually you dont have to use ferric acid to etch steel. This is my personal recipe and I get a gallon or 2 for under $10.00 US...........
Click to expand...
Get the Etchant from Radio Shack @ $4.49/pint. mix 3:1 H2O/FeCl. Makes 1/2 gallon. Do it twice = $9.98/gal.
Gotcha beat.
 
J.S. Carter said:
Actually you dont have to use ferric acid to etch steel. This is my personal recipe and I get a gallon or 2 for under $10.00 US. You can get a good etchant at your local grocery store. Use a 50/50 mix of white/cider vinegar and 100% lemon juice, use an old plastic tub or plastic coffee can to hold it, completly submerge what you want etched and let it set over night, no more than 24 hours though!!! My uncle once left a case knife in a bath of just white vinigar for 2 weeks, When he remembered it, and went and fished it out, the edge was almost completely eaten away. It looked serrated it was eaten so badly.

It Works Great! takes a little more time than ferric acid but you dont have to worry about poisoning anything accidently though either.
Click to expand...

I have heard about this before thanks for the recipe , I am going to try it on some bolsters.
 
No problem guys, glad to help out! Grew up in an old machine shop so i got all kinds of neat tricks up my sleeve :cool::D... oh and the 2 gal for under 10 bux thing I was being very conservative.;) you might have me beat, :grumpy: but if i buy the cheap stuff maybe not. :D dont know but hey it works and ferric acid is hard to find in this part of the woods. unless you special order it then it becomes a pain in the butt you know whut i mean vern?
 
Local knife maker that taught me damascus used the acid you buy at Lowes or Home Depot for cleaning bricks. Can just let it soak but takes time. He used a old electric skillet and heated OUTSIDE to a boil. Used a timer let soak for TWO minutes per side and turned and removed with a extendable magnet tool. Works for him but definately DEFINATELY don't want to breath the fumes! Once again he did it outside and didn't inhale fumes.
 
The ol fella that taught me actually builds custom muzzleloaders mainly but makes anywhere from 40 to 80 damascus knifes a month. Said he use to use the acid from Radio Shack but took to long and didn't etch as good. Said he learned the hard way that warm acid worked quicker so he puts that to use by boiling and timing for two minutes per side. He immediately rinses them in water after the acid bath. Has a little electronic cooking timer that he sets for two minutes and clamps it on his shirt so he can't forget and answer the phone or get to talking to someone and forget the time. He showed me a blank left in too long. lol Wasn't pretty.
 
If you're gonna use muriatic acid (HCl), store it outside, even when closed.
Everything will rust in your shop...
 
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