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The Damascus Forum The art and study of Damascus steel making.

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  #1  
Old 05-04-2013, 11:37 AM
Jim T Jim T is offline
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Sanding a blade before etching?

Question.... How fine should you sand a damascus blade before dipping it into the ferric chloride for final etching? The blade I have is 1080 and 15n20 if that makes a difference.

Jim T
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Old 05-04-2013, 11:57 AM
metal99 metal99 is offline
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I haven't done any Damascus blades but I have done some bolsters and guards. I sanded mine to 600 grit with good results.


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Old 05-04-2013, 12:03 PM
Jim T Jim T is offline
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Thanks Julius. I usually take mine to 600 grit, too. Just wondering if that's good enough for a damascus blade. I've been told that any little flaw tends to show up more after the etch.

Jim T
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Old 05-04-2013, 12:14 PM
metal99 metal99 is offline
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Just make sure that there are no big scratches left and you should be good. You could always go higher just to make sure. I etched a blade with a hamon that was just sanded to 220 the scratches showed up bad on that one.


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Old 05-05-2013, 08:38 AM
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WynnKnives WynnKnives is offline
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400-600 is usually sufficient, the main thing is like metal said, make sure there are no distinct scratches that stand out and you'll be good. I personally wouldn't go past 800 just a waste of time at that point.
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Old 05-05-2013, 11:28 AM
Jim T Jim T is offline
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Thanks guys. 600 it is. - Jim T
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Old 05-15-2013, 07:55 AM
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Ed Caffrey Ed Caffrey is offline
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Hey Jim!

I got in on this late....so here's my input.

My answer is 600-1200, depending on the pattern in the damascus. To explain, patterns that are finer/tighter...you can get away with 600 grit. As the pattern gets larger/more open, you need to sand finer, otherwise you will often get "etch lines"...which are basically "drag" marks in the finished product.

(this happens when larger sanding "scratches" are left in the blade, and they will produce "drag marks" in the pattern.)


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Old 05-26-2013, 11:49 AM
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I always go to atleast 600


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Old 05-26-2013, 08:50 PM
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Ed
Thanks for the explanation. I always go to 600 and had wondered why sometimes it looked great and other times it had the drag marks. Now I know.
Thanks
Steve


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