First attempt at etching

Kmaddock · 25th August 2016, 12:20 PM

Hi
I recently baught the attached Kyber knife
It was very rusty throughout but I decided to put in a low bid on the auction and happily it was mine
Cost was minimal, probably paid as much on diesel to pick it up as I paid for the knife.
The handle is horn and fittings in brass, blade 23 inch long.
I normally do not clean my items but this knife just had to be cleaned, I left the brass and horn un cleaned
I decided to document the process to see if I can contribute somewhat to this fantastic forum
See below the blade in original state
I worked from 000 wire wool with oil up to 2000 grit sand paper
Probably took 2 hours in total
The first set of images are the cleaning in progress
There are a good few pictures so this will take a few posts
Regards
Ken

Kmaddock · 25th August 2016, 12:33 PM

Next step was the etching
I pm'ed mariusgmioc after his recent post on etching to ask about the solution he used
I work in a lab so getting the natal solution he talked about was no problem.
I mixed up 500 ml of methanol with 20 ml of 70 percent nitric acid to produce a 4 percent solution.
I decided to rub on the enchant as I did not have a container deep enough and I did not want to use up too much solution as it can be hazardous to store.

In making up the solution it got slightly warm but if you add to much nitric the reaction can go too crazy and degrade the alcohol, giving off red fumes.
I was prepared if the solution degraded with 5 L of water to hand to dump the solution into

Gloves, goggles and lab coat were worn.

I washed blade with acetone to de grease it.

Then I rubbed the solution using a cotton swab and left to sit for 10 seconds

Then flushed with water in a sink

And dried with tissue

The process was repeated 3 times

Para film was used to protect the handle, this is a lab product like cling film

I could see the pattern emerging in 3 or 4 seconds

Nothing fancy compared to what I see on this forum but definitely a laminate blade, I think!
Results on the next post
Regards
Ken

Kmaddock · 25th August 2016, 12:37 PM

And finally what I have ended up with.
Slightly brown in places but I might have a go at polishing gently the whole blade later on.
Any comments advice welcome
Also if anyone can give an approx date on the knife I would be delighted to hear your opinions.
As I am in Ireland pictures in natural light are hard to get
Regards to all
Ken

mariusgmioc · 25th August 2016, 01:09 PM

Hello,

From what I see, you didn't polish the blade sufficiently. It should be up to grit 2000-3000 (mirror polish; some pitting here and there is acceptable but the surface between pits should be mirror polished).

Then try etching.

For lower contrast/difficult wootz I use "reversed etching." More exactly I strengthen my Nital by adding about 10-20% Perma Blue and apply the solution to obtain a uniform blackening of the whole blade. Then gently wipe off the excess black oxidation with cotton wool swabs and Pre-lim.

Good luck!

PS: Are you sure it is wootz?

Kmaddock · 25th August 2016, 02:31 PM

Hi Mariusgmioc
I do not think it is a Wootz blade
Just a standard laminate so the etching is probably as good as it will get
I enjoyed the learning experience all the same
ken

mariusgmioc · 25th August 2016, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kmaddock

Hi Mariusgmioc
I do not think it is a Wootz blade
Just a standard laminate so the etching is probably as good as it will get
I enjoyed the learning experience all the same
ken

If it is not wootz nor pattern welded, then why etching?!

25th August 2016, 12:20 PM	#1
Kmaddock Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Ireland Posts: 532	First attempt at etching Hi I recently baught the attached Kyber knife It was very rusty throughout but I decided to put in a low bid on the auction and happily it was mine Cost was minimal, probably paid as much on diesel to pick it up as I paid for the knife. The handle is horn and fittings in brass, blade 23 inch long. I normally do not clean my items but this knife just had to be cleaned, I left the brass and horn un cleaned I decided to document the process to see if I can contribute somewhat to this fantastic forum See below the blade in original state I worked from 000 wire wool with oil up to 2000 grit sand paper Probably took 2 hours in total The first set of images are the cleaning in progress There are a good few pictures so this will take a few posts Regards Ken Attached Images

25th August 2016, 12:33 PM	#2
Kmaddock Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Ireland Posts: 532	Next step was the etching I pm'ed mariusgmioc after his recent post on etching to ask about the solution he used I work in a lab so getting the natal solution he talked about was no problem. I mixed up 500 ml of methanol with 20 ml of 70 percent nitric acid to produce a 4 percent solution. I decided to rub on the enchant as I did not have a container deep enough and I did not want to use up too much solution as it can be hazardous to store. In making up the solution it got slightly warm but if you add to much nitric the reaction can go too crazy and degrade the alcohol, giving off red fumes. I was prepared if the solution degraded with 5 L of water to hand to dump the solution into Gloves, goggles and lab coat were worn. I washed blade with acetone to de grease it. Then I rubbed the solution using a cotton swab and left to sit for 10 seconds Then flushed with water in a sink And dried with tissue The process was repeated 3 times Para film was used to protect the handle, this is a lab product like cling film I could see the pattern emerging in 3 or 4 seconds Nothing fancy compared to what I see on this forum but definitely a laminate blade, I think! Results on the next post Regards Ken Attached Images

25th August 2016, 12:37 PM	#3
Kmaddock Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Ireland Posts: 532	And finally what I have ended up with. Slightly brown in places but I might have a go at polishing gently the whole blade later on. Any comments advice welcome Also if anyone can give an approx date on the knife I would be delighted to hear your opinions. As I am in Ireland pictures in natural light are hard to get Regards to all Ken Attached Images

25th August 2016, 01:09 PM	#4
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,870	Hello, From what I see, you didn't polish the blade sufficiently. It should be up to grit 2000-3000 (mirror polish; some pitting here and there is acceptable but the surface between pits should be mirror polished). Then try etching. For lower contrast/difficult wootz I use "reversed etching." More exactly I strengthen my Nital by adding about 10-20% Perma Blue and apply the solution to obtain a uniform blackening of the whole blade. Then gently wipe off the excess black oxidation with cotton wool swabs and Pre-lim. Good luck! PS: Are you sure it is wootz?

25th August 2016, 02:31 PM	#5
Kmaddock Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Ireland Posts: 532	Hi Mariusgmioc I do not think it is a Wootz blade Just a standard laminate so the etching is probably as good as it will get I enjoyed the learning experience all the same ken