Ethnographic Arms & Armour

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-   -   FeCl affects on non ferrous metals (http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=10752)

Atlantia 11th September 2009 08:28 PM
FeCl affects on non ferrous metals
 
Just wondered, anyone got this stuff on brass or silver? Does it eat into them or affect them?

Rick 11th September 2009 08:32 PM
It blackens Silver, it seems to polish back up okay .

Atlantia 11th September 2009 09:33 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick
It blackens Silver, it seems to polish back up okay .
Ah, thanks.
I take it that it will do bad things to brass, isn't it used to disolve/etch brass sheets?

Rich 11th September 2009 09:54 PM
Yes, it is used to etch copper (brass is mostly copper) in printed circuit boards.
I wouldn't recommend using FeCl3 on brass.

Rich

Gavin Nugent 12th September 2009 02:20 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
Yes, it is used to etch copper (brass is mostly copper) in printed circuit boards.
I wouldn't recommend using FeCl3 on brass.

Rich
Neither would I, I have heard of stories when people have used it on Chinese Jian with the seven star inlay, it has eaten the inlay away. From memory, Josh or Rick some time back recommended that clear nail polish be applied to any any inlay before using it.

Gav

Atlantia 12th September 2009 07:03 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by freebooter
Neither would I, I have heard of stories when people have used it on Chinese Jian with the seven star inlay, it has eaten the inlay away. From memory, Josh or Rick some time back recommended that clear nail polish be applied to any any inlay before using it.

Gav

OMG! That would be a bit of an 'oops' moment!

Battara 12th September 2009 08:24 PM
This also depends on the strength of the acid. If dlluted say by half, then the damage is controlled. I have etched by half strength before and less, and it has not eaten into the brass or silver. Mind you, it was not on long at all.

ariel 13th September 2009 04:12 AM
Sounds like a good way to age brass things artificially.

G. McCormack 13th September 2009 10:24 PM
Dont forget, it will dissolve things into its own solution. So if you have an etchant tank of FeCl you use for blades, then use it for a copper article, don't be surprised when the next blade you etch comes out lightly plated in copper. :)

Battara 13th September 2009 11:54 PM
And for that reason you use other acids to age brass......

ThePepperSkull 23rd September 2009 01:41 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by freebooter
Neither would I, I have heard of stories when people have used it on Chinese Jian with the seven star inlay, it has eaten the inlay away. From memory, Josh or Rick some time back recommended that clear nail polish be applied to any any inlay before using it.
Is this an effective way to keep areas you don't want etched in their unetched state? Would taping off the areas be a better option or would the etchant just eat away at the tape?

ward 23rd September 2009 01:48 AM
Ferricc will go thru the tape. Any nail polish will work or wax

Battara 23rd September 2009 02:55 AM
The acid does not react to the acrylic in the nail polish or the wax.

Rick 23rd September 2009 03:54 AM
Wax would seem to be the traditional resist medium .
Easy clean up .

Gavin Nugent 23rd September 2009 04:01 AM
Wax
 
Wax was the traditional method seem on most European weapons when acid etched scrolls etc were applied to the blades, also a good medium to work with.

Gav


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