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Posted by Martin H. Eastburn on May 13, 2008, 9:45 pm
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That looked like good input to keep.
As for the Ferric - why not just use pool acid - Lowe's and Home Depot have it
out in the garden area (Lowe's does for certain) in 2 gallon boxes. (Easy to
carry). I use it to pickle (de-rust and etch) the surface of steel.
[ if lacking a big toy store like those - pool supply stores will sell the pool
acid - HCL. ]
I use a far amount of A400 steel that is used in (large machine)buckets, knives,
targets, etc. I get a nice etch pattern from time to time on the A400. Not so
on HRS.
I don't think you will have to heat H Cl and steel wool - I think it will self
heat.
I use large plastic storage bins. I put 2-4 gallons and use it as a soaking.
Takes 15 minutes to take a strong rust off and give me a nice silvery metal.
I use acid gloves and sometimes rub a spot to see if it is working - and find
the surface layer wipes off.
Martin
Martin H. Eastburn
@ home at Lions' Lair with our computer lionslair at consolidated dot net
TSRA, Endowed; NRA LOH & Patron Member, Golden Eagle, Patriot's Medal.
NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Founder
IHMSA and NRA Metallic Silhouette maker & member.
http://lufkinced.com/
Neon John wrote:
>
>> Good day folks! I'm new to this news group and trying to get some
>> information. I have been working a coal fired, hand cranked forge for
>> about 6 years. Recently I have bowed to local pressure to make Damascus
>> Steel, and to shape into knifes. My problem is that I'm having a
>> difficult time finding an etching solution ie. ferric chloride, or
>> nitric acid. All of the local Radio Shack's have discontinued ferric
>> chloride and I can't find a supply of nitric acid. Can anyone suggest a
>> supplier? I live in rural southern Illinois.
>
> Re: ferric chloride. Google is your friend. I typed "ferric chloride,
> Chicago, Il" into google and got a few hundred thousand hits. Kepro is just
> one of dozens of companies that come to mind that sell printed circuit board
> supplies. The stuff is very dense and is classified as HAZMAT so finding a
> local warehouse would probably be a better option than trying to have it
> shipped. If you do have to have it shipped, get it in dry form to avoid paying
> lots of $$$ to have water shipped to you.
>
> If that's too much trouble, simply make your own. Get some hydrochloric acid
> (muratic acid) concrete wash from Home Depot or wherever. Place some in a
> glass or ceramic vessel. Drop in wads of fine steel wool. Preferably, heat
> the solution over a camping stove, sterno, etc. Outdoors, of course. Keep
> feeding the steel wool until the reaction stops.
>
> Re: nitric acid. Have you called to local chemical supply houses within
> reasonable driving distances? Nitric acid is such a commonly used industrial
> chemical that I can't imagine it not being available. Especially in an
> industrial area like S. Il.
>
> I get mine from a chemical supply company that caters to the textile industry.
> It comes 4 one gallon glass jugs to a case. Technical grade should cost less
> than $50.
>
> You don't even want to think about paying to have the stuff shipped, which is
> why I suggest limiting your search to convenient driving distance.
>
> You might also try electrolytic etching. Make up a salt water solution
> (experiment with concentration) in a non-metallic container. Suspend your
> Damascus object in the solution using iron bailing wire. Drop a hunk of clean
> scrap steel (stainless or carbon) into the solution. Connect the object and
> the steel to a car battery or similar source of low voltage DC. It'll
> probably etch best if the object is the + terminal. Control the current with
> the salt concentration and with how much of the hunk of steel (cathode, -
> terminal) is immersed in the solution. I'd start with about an amp per square
> inch of Damascus surface area. The action can be greatly sped up by adding
> some hydrochloric acid.
>
> I know that this will etch ferrous metal quite well. The only unknown is
> whether it'll develop the Damascus pattern that you desire.
>
> John
>
> --
> John De Armond
> See my website for my current email address
> http://www.neon-john.com
> http://www.johndearmond.com <-- best little blog on the net!
> Tellico Plains, Occupied TN
> What do you call 10 blondes standing in a row? Air line.
>
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