MEMBER ITEMS FOR SALE
Custom Knives | Other Knives | General Items
-------------------------------------------
New Posts | New PhotosAll Photos



Go Back   The Knife Network Forums : Knife Making Discussions > Custom Knife Discussion Boards > Knife Making Discussions > The Newbies Arena

The Newbies Arena Are you new to knife making? Here is all the help you will need.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 08-28-2001, 08:41 PM
joe41272
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
blade etching


I looked in some of the older topics, but couldn't find this one. It concerns blade etching (for temper lines, not logos). Today I purchased some ferric chloride etchant and trisodium phosphate to neutralize the etchant. I know to dilute the etchant 4 to 1 with water, but I don't know how strong to make my TSP solution. Any help would be appreciated.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 08-28-2001, 09:19 PM
BCB27
Guest
 
Posts: n/a

I use ammonia straight out of the bottle. It is recommended over TSP in one of Tim McCreight's books.

Brett
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 08-28-2001, 09:25 PM
Mondt
Guest
 
Posts: n/a

I use the TSP as it does a bit of passivating the steel after the Ferric Chloride. I used 1/2 cup to a Qt of water.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 08-29-2001, 09:52 AM
J Loose
Guest
 
Posts: n/a

Make sure you dilute with distilled water...

I had some problems with tap water contaminating the ferric...

Also I do not use any tsp or ammonia- I scrub the blade with soapy water and #00000 steel wool, buff with tripoli, clean with acetone / alcohol and then oil the blade... I have noticed that Marvel Mystery oil darkens the pattern up a bit. Have not noticed a difference w/o tsp, so I just stopped using it.

It might be that all the scrubbing, polishing, cleaning and oil get rid of any ferric residue anyway.

Mondt- what do you mean by 'passivating,'?
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 08-29-2001, 06:07 PM
Mondt
Guest
 
Posts: n/a

Passivating is a process used in chemical reactors or on metallic surfaces which come in contact with substances which could be reactive to the free ions on the surface. Passivating neutralizes the surface against chemical reaction. For example in pharmaceutical manufacturing most drugs are compounded in glass lined tanks because of the potential for chemical carry over or chemical reaction with a stainless steel tank.

When passivating you wash the metal surface with an agent to chealate (deactivate) the exposed free ion. For example on a non-stainless blade the surface is covered with iron in a matrix of various carbides. Left alone some of the iron will convert to either a +1 or +2 ionic state and react with the most reative chemical around, oxygen. Hence the terms rust, patina, corrosion, oxidation, ect.

There are many different types of passivation agents, ranging from phosphates and citrates to sodium hydroxide and nitric acid. It all depends on the material being treated and what it is coming in contact with.

It seems to me that damascus treated with TSP may be a bit tougher to get rust on. This is just my observation though, I have never put it to the test.

Hope this helps.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 08-29-2001, 09:07 PM
J Loose
Guest
 
Posts: n/a

Thanks, Mondt...

I've heard of 'neutralizing,' to prevent further etching by left-over acid, but passivating sounds like w hole different game.

I'll have to do some comparative tests with the tsp / no tsp as far as rust goes.... hadn't even considered that one.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
blade, knife


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

(View-All Members who have read this thread : 1
grant
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:18 PM.




KNIFENETWORK.COM
Copyright © 2000
? CKK Industries, Inc. ? All Rights Reserved
Powered by ...

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
The Knife Network : All Rights Reserved