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Ed Caffrey's Workshop Talk to Ed Caffrey ... The Montana Bladesmith! Tips, tricks and more from an ABS Mastersmith.

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  #1  
Old 09-03-2008, 09:50 AM
Dana Hackney's Avatar
Dana Hackney Dana Hackney is offline
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Angry removing epoxy from damascus blade

Hi Ed and gang!

I'm trying, feverishly to get ready for the Blade West (might have 6-7 knives done)
and ran into a snag on a small damascus knife and was hoping someone could
help this dummy out.

I had kept the blade wrapped in tissue and tape during the handle assembly and shaping
process and noticed, afterwards, that the blade has some small areas that have a light
covering of acraglass on the etched blade.

Will acetone work to remove the epoxy or will I have to resand and re-etch?!

Many thanks,
Dana
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  #2  
Old 09-03-2008, 10:46 AM
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B.Finnigan B.Finnigan is offline
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An acetone soak will disolve it or loosen it enough to peel/scrape it off. I has taken a couple days to loosen a handle that I needed removed.
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Old 09-03-2008, 11:00 AM
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Dana Hackney Dana Hackney is offline
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Thank you....

Mr. Finnigan! I'll give it a go and hope it comes off easily. One of my main concerns was
it removing the etched finish...whew!

Thanks again,
Dana
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Old 09-03-2008, 11:11 AM
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B.Finnigan B.Finnigan is offline
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It will clean/degrease an etched finish but not change the contrast. A popsicle stick with an end cut cleanly off makes a good scraper for gummy resins that don't completely disolve.

Last edited by B.Finnigan; 09-03-2008 at 11:19 AM.
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Old 09-03-2008, 11:56 AM
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Dana Hackney Dana Hackney is offline
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Got it!

Thanks, again, Mr. Finnigan.

Are you planning on attending the Blade West this month? It would be nice to
talk to you in person.

Best regards,
Dana
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  #6  
Old 09-03-2008, 03:50 PM
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No I won't make it this year.
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Old 09-03-2008, 04:24 PM
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Ed Caffrey Ed Caffrey is offline
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Dana,

OOOPPPSS! Been there, done that!
Your best bet with accraglass is to keep it wet with acetone for a LONG time. Unlike normal epoxy, acetone doesn't have much effect on accraglass. The last time I messed up and got accraglass on a damascus blade, I filled a small glass cylinder with acetone and soaked the blade (making sure the acetone covered the spot of accragalls) overnight. I sharpened a Popsicle stick and scraped off what I could the next morning, then scrubbed the daylights out of it with flitz and #0000 steel wool. It discolored slightly, but nobody ever noticed the boo-boo.


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  #8  
Old 09-05-2008, 08:17 AM
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Dana Hackney Dana Hackney is offline
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Thanks Ed!

I ended up doing EXACTLY what you suggested! I got out the acetone as Mr. Finnigan suggested
and scrubbed around on the area where the acraglass was imbedded in the pattern and got some of
the stuff to come off, but not all. I then took a small jar of acetone and submerged just the blade
into the jar for a LONG time. Once done, I took the popsicle stick and worked on the stubborn areas
and finished up with a good scrubbing with some 0000 steel wool and flitz. That flitz stuff is pretty amazing!

Anyhow, I may have to re-etch just for a few seconds to get everything the way I want it to look.

Thanks for all the help guys!

I might have 5-6 blades done for the show ... it'll just have to suffice.

Dana
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  #9  
Old 09-06-2008, 12:01 AM
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Cool finger nail polish

finger nail polish makes a good "resist" for the acid, when you need to do some touch -up on damascus,, I hate those "boo-boos",, just rinse with acetone a few times when you'r done! ------Jon


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  #10  
Old 09-06-2008, 05:55 PM
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Thanks Jon!

That's a good idea. I'lll give that a try. I think I can get by on just re-etching, starting at the
plunge cut. So, the fingernail polsih trick should workd well just covering the ricasso.

Thanks again!
Dana
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  #11  
Old 09-09-2008, 08:50 AM
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Steven Kelly Steven Kelly is offline
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Hey Dana,

Try using some vasaline on the parts of the blade you don't want epoxy to stick to. Whenever I attach a handle toa blade, I put the vasaline all over the guard and ricasso. The epoxy will just rub right off after it dries. It will also help with that pesky little seepage that you sometimes get around the guard where it meets the ricasso.

good luck,

looking forward to visiting at Blade West,

Steve


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Old 09-09-2008, 09:24 AM
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Dana Hackney Dana Hackney is offline
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Thanks Steve!

I'm definitely going to glob that stuff on from now on. That was a LOT of work getting
that stuff off the blade....and, after looking at the blade in some natural light, I still see some
discoloration

I've got 3 of the 6 sheaths in the works (none finished yet) and 3 to start on before we
leave on the 18th! Looking forward to some camping on the Oregon coast before the show
.

See you there!
Dana
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  #13  
Old 09-09-2008, 02:56 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dana Hackney

I've got 3 of the 6 sheaths in the works (none finished yet) and 3 to start on before we
leave on the 18th! Looking forward to some camping on the Oregon coast before the show
.

See you there!
Dana
Camping on the Oregon coast means Ed and I can expect softshell crab and fresh oysters for appetizers at the show???????


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  #14  
Old 09-10-2008, 10:17 AM
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Dana Hackney Dana Hackney is offline
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Talking How about some shells?

I might be able to bring you both back some dungeoness crab shells and
some pretty (empty) oyster shells. Will that suffice ? I figured that these would
make some nice folder scales....ha!

Dana
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