ranger1

Ok, I start with a light coat of viniger. applied with a 0000 steel wool pad. Then put on a coat of Ferric chloride with a small brush. While the FC is still wet I scrubb the blade with a 0000 steel wool pad dipped in viniger. I just keep repeating the process until I get the desired finish. Clean well with windex to stop the acid Then polish with a metal polish . Steel type will have alot to do with the hamon. Best results are with fast quenching steels ie 1095 and W2. O1 and such is very hard to get a line on. Hope this helps.

Hey Andy, Tell me again how you etched that blade at the last meeting. I have a blade that I did a differential quench and I want to bring that out with the acid but I could not remember how you did it and I didn't want to just stick it in. Thanks.