Another question about etching

Battara · 19th July 2010, 03:32 AM

Also what kind of water - distilled I hope? Did you also use baking soda afterward?

Ferguson · 19th July 2010, 11:33 AM

I've had wootz blades that didn't respond well to FeCl. They used nitric in the past I think. I've never used it. Very dangerous stuff.

Steve

ariel · 19th July 2010, 02:16 PM

Thanks to all!
Both blades are unquestionable wootz: very weak pattern seen.
Yes, distilled.
Yes, baking soda ( sodium bicarbonate)
What %% nitric acid? How long?

And, if the rest of the blade is still grey, any rubbing afterwards or some other method?

Gavin Nugent · 19th July 2010, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

Thanks to all!
Both blades are unquestionable wootz: very weak pattern seen.
Yes, distilled.
Yes, baking soda ( sodium bicarbonate)
What %% nitric acid? How long?

And, if the rest of the blade is still grey, any rubbing afterwards or some other method?

Ariel,

You speak the lingo and will find this a help.

http://playground.sun.com/~vasya/Obach-01.html

It works for me and as noted, is very dangerous, I mean very, be careful.

Gav

ariel · 19th July 2010, 04:41 PM

Gav,
You are brilliant!!!!!!!
Many thanks.

Gavin Nugent · 19th July 2010, 05:23 PM

Happy to be of service, please send me the results and or post them here, I am interested to see how you got on with it...I am eager to know if it is the Kilij you were restoring some time back.

Gav

ALEX · 21st July 2010, 10:18 AM

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.

19th July 2010, 05:23 PM	#6
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Happy to help Happy to be of service, please send me the results and or post them here, I am interested to see how you got on with it...I am eager to know if it is the Kilij you were restoring some time back. Gav

19th July 2010, 03:32 AM	#1
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,363	Also what kind of water - distilled I hope? Did you also use baking soda afterward?

19th July 2010, 11:33 AM	#2
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	I've had wootz blades that didn't respond well to FeCl. They used nitric in the past I think. I've never used it. Very dangerous stuff. Steve

19th July 2010, 02:16 PM	#3
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Thanks to all! Both blades are unquestionable wootz: very weak pattern seen. Yes, distilled. Yes, baking soda ( sodium bicarbonate) What %% nitric acid? How long? And, if the rest of the blade is still grey, any rubbing afterwards or some other method?

19th July 2010, 04:41 PM	#5
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Gav, You are brilliant!!!!!!! Many thanks.

21st July 2010, 10:18 AM	#7
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936	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.