Re: Etchung Solutions for Damascus

In article <AMudnVbVXLNxCLXVnZ2dnUVZ_uudnZ2d@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>,
   R <you@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> 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.

You could try "Edinburgh etch" - 70g Copper Sulphate, 70g common salt
(Sodium Chloride) per litre of water

You need to make it up in hot water but you use it at room temperature.
We use it for etching designs onto steel plate. It's fairly slow but
comparativly safe. Gentle stroking with a feather (we don't want to remove
the etch resist) helps things along.

-- 
Stuart Winsor

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