Etching Blades

Federico · 4th December 2004, 06:56 AM

Realistically, a hand rubbed polish will probably not smear the grain in the same manner as a high-speed buffer. But then again, there is always the why take the chance factor. What I would be more worried about are all the "protective" chemical residues some polishes leave. They can be a bear to remove, and sometimes require alot more sanding just to get rid of. Notorious for ruining antiques is Brasso, screws up brass patina, and the chemicals in it cause brass to corrode in a bad color (Im sure you've probably seen the chalky white icky effect on a brasso cleaned piece of brass that has been left to sit for a while). I worry about the same thing happening on the steel. Then again, there are chances nothing would happen. I personally wouldnt bother with the potential headache.

As for etching a blade polished with a compound, you could go ahead and try. Ive never used MAAS, so I dont know what kind of gunk it coats the blade with. Degrease, and keep an eye on it. In this case I would recommend stopping the etch if it starts to look funky. Sometimes, if the grain is sealed all that is needed to re-open the pattern is etching, sometimes a little sanding helps.

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4th December 2004, 06:56 AM	#14
Federico Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Minneapolis, MN, USA Posts: 312	Realistically, a hand rubbed polish will probably not smear the grain in the same manner as a high-speed buffer. But then again, there is always the why take the chance factor. What I would be more worried about are all the "protective" chemical residues some polishes leave. They can be a bear to remove, and sometimes require alot more sanding just to get rid of. Notorious for ruining antiques is Brasso, screws up brass patina, and the chemicals in it cause brass to corrode in a bad color (Im sure you've probably seen the chalky white icky effect on a brasso cleaned piece of brass that has been left to sit for a while). I worry about the same thing happening on the steel. Then again, there are chances nothing would happen. I personally wouldnt bother with the potential headache. As for etching a blade polished with a compound, you could go ahead and try. Ive never used MAAS, so I dont know what kind of gunk it coats the blade with. Degrease, and keep an eye on it. In this case I would recommend stopping the etch if it starts to look funky. Sometimes, if the grain is sealed all that is needed to re-open the pattern is etching, sometimes a little sanding helps.