FeCl affects on non ferrous metals

[Atlantia]

Just wondered, anyone got this stuff on brass or silver? Does it eat into them or affect them?

[Rick]

It blackens Silver, it seems to polish back up okay .

[Atlantia]

It blackens Silver, it seems to polish back up okay .

Ah, thanks.
I take it that it will do bad things to brass, isn't it used to disolve/etch brass sheets?

[Rich]

Yes, it is used to etch copper (brass is mostly copper) in printed circuit boards.
I wouldn't recommend using FeCl3 on brass.

Rich

[Gavin Nugent]

Yes, it is used to etch copper (brass is mostly copper) in printed circuit boards.
I wouldn't recommend using FeCl3 on brass.

Rich

Neither would I, I have heard of stories when people have used it on Chinese Jian with the seven star inlay, it has eaten the inlay away. From memory, Josh or Rick some time back recommended that clear nail polish be applied to any any inlay before using it.

Gav

[Atlantia]

Neither would I, I have heard of stories when people have used it on Chinese Jian with the seven star inlay, it has eaten the inlay away. From memory, Josh or Rick some time back recommended that clear nail polish be applied to any any inlay before using it.

Gav


OMG! That would be a bit of an 'oops' moment!

[Battara]

This also depends on the strength of the acid. If dlluted say by half, then the damage is controlled. I have etched by half strength before and less, and it has not eaten into the brass or silver. Mind you, it was not on long at all.

[ariel]

Sounds like a good way to age brass things artificially.

[G. McCormack]

Dont forget, it will dissolve things into its own solution. So if you have an etchant tank of FeCl you use for blades, then use it for a copper article, don't be surprised when the next blade you etch comes out lightly plated in copper. :)

[Battara]

And for that reason you use other acids to age brass......

[ThePepperSkull]

Neither would I, I have heard of stories when people have used it on Chinese Jian with the seven star inlay, it has eaten the inlay away. From memory, Josh or Rick some time back recommended that clear nail polish be applied to any any inlay before using it.

Is this an effective way to keep areas you don't want etched in their unetched state? Would taping off the areas be a better option or would the etchant just eat away at the tape?

[ward]

Ferricc will go thru the tape. Any nail polish will work or wax

[Battara]

The acid does not react to the acrylic in the nail polish or the wax.

[Rick]

Wax would seem to be the traditional resist medium .
Easy clean up .

[Gavin Nugent]

Wax was the traditional method seem on most European weapons when acid etched scrolls etc were applied to the blades, also a good medium to work with.

Gav