[TheForge] Etching Damascus

[Roger R Degner]

Mix a capful of the dry crystal with 5 gal of water.  
Heat the copper a dull red and quench in the mix
This softens the copper so it can be worked again with out cracking.
If you take the cold copper out right away it will be varying red color
depending on how hot the copper was when it was quenched.  If you want
the copper pink leave it in to work 
At a copper vase class we were told the HTH ph minus (sodium bisulphate)
was the same as sparex but a lot cheaper and easier to find.  Wal-Mart
in pool chemical section.  Be aware the bottle next to it is PH plus and
that doesn't do anything you need.

We use liver of sulfur for the dark patina the HTH PH Minus is the
cleaner and I soften the copper in it because it is sitting next to the
forge.

Don't quench steel in the bucket you have been doing copper in as it can
copper coat your steel.

Have been doing a few Roycroft style pieces as taught by Don
Newunswander (SP)

Roger R Degner



Roger,
 
How do you use pH Minus with copper?  Do you quench/anneal the hot
copper in it?  Does it keep the copper bright or does it give a patina?
 
Aubrey

________________________________

From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net on behalf of Roger R Degner
Sent: Tue 11/21/2006 4:24 PM
To: 'Sponsored by ABANA'
Subject: RE: [TheForge] Etching Damascus



The PH minus is what a bunch of use who do copper vases are using as the
pickle and quench solution for the anneal. I think we have Tom Latane'
convinced to switch from high strength vinegar to the ph minus for his
descale soak for his steel work between the forging operation and the
filing stage.

Roger R Degner