BLADE ETCHING

An example of how i create an etched blade.

Electrical resist applied the image is drawn roughly onto the surface. Then the time consuming bit starts the resist is carefully scratched away to reveal the bare steel.

Thats one side done, now its time to flip it over and start again on the other side.

When the design has been marked onto both sides of the blade the whole resistive area must be coated in a heat proof paint that will not let the electrolyte fluid pass through it.

Electrical metal removal, using an elecrolyte and a combination of DC and AC currents. Metal particals are drawn away from the surface, the metal hidden under the resist is untouched.

After the blade has been electricaly etched it is cleaned and made ready for its acid etch. I dont often combine the two methods, but in this case i thought it would be nice to have two shades and depths of leaves.

When the acid resist has set the second set of leaves can be drawn. The same method is used here as with the first leaves. The resit is carefully removed to reveal the steel beneth.

The blade is now wraped in tape leaving only the area to be etched uncovered. The blade is then placed in a ferric chloride acid bath for ten minutes each side.

Thats the blade etching done. Now what are we going to do about the handle. A combination of mommoth bone, maple wood and gold powder sounds nice.

The finished knife.