Another question about etching

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by ALEX

Thanks for the link, Gav! You're brilliant indeed!

Ariel, I'd recommend in this case not to keep FeCl on the steel for long, and instead do many short sessions in this manner: clean and polish the blade, etch and as soon as you see the colour change to yellow - stop, clean the yellow residue with steel mesh (not sandpaper!!!) with a drop of dishwasher liquid, clean and repeat the cycle. could take as many as 10 cycles or more, but it will work. The yellow residue will prevent etchant from developing the pattern, so you must remove it before each etch. Repeat until you see the improvement, clean with water and apply oil to the blade.
The yellow residue is indicative of particular quality of wootz, not the etchant.

Thanks Alex.

Ariel, Alex is indeed correct, this method works well too, though I fast tracked it a little...I'm not the most patient man. See the results of one Amanremu I have here from the Kelling Hall collection. This is a method I used to show the 'Wootz' or 'Wootz like' Inserted edge.
Fine 0000 grade steel wool is my choice.
Dilution, well, I ain't to scientific.

Gav