[TheForge] Etchant strength

[PlumDon at aol.com]

In a message dated 9/10/2004 8:38:31 AM Eastern Standard Time,  
irontree at visi.com writes:

I  purchased some etchant from Radio Shack.  Am I supposed to use this stuff  
at
full strength or am I supposed to dilute it?   Anyone?



The etchant Rob Hudson, a noted East Coast knifemaker uses is ferric  
chloride. It is most conveniently available from Radio Shack where it is called  PCB 
Etchant Solution. It is most effective when it is mixed with 5 parts water  to 
1 part etchant. Rob thinks it would probably be equally effective at an 8 to  
1 mix. The timings in the echant are dependent on your personal tastes.  In a 
damascus blade I did I used three 8 minute cycles. It was held in  the 
etchant for 8 minutes, removed and tooth brushed clean with a bit of water,  
re-immersed for 8 mins and cleaned and then once again. 

Don  Plummer
Plummer Design Works
392 Hallman Mill Road
Phoenixville, PA  19460
610-495-5058