After etching

[youngsmith]

Atfer you etch something that is pattern welded, how do you keep it from rusting?

[EdCaffreyMS]

After etching, it is important to neutralize the etchant. Use a solution of TSP (tri-sodium phosphate) which you can get at any local hardware store. (its sold mostly in granular form as a product to wash walls prior to painting). Mix it up with distilled water until the water will not dissolve any more. After etching, place the blade in the solution for a few minutes. Afterward, use some #0000 steel wool and water to scrub the "gunk" off the blade. Dry the blade completely. I personally use Mother's Caranuba Cleaner/wax to protect all my knives. There are also many type of oils you can use, but they required repeated application and are somewhat messy, and any oil will draw/hold dirt and grit. Stay away from products that contain silicon. Silicon will trap moisture, causing small rust spots to form, especially in humid climates. What I like about the waxes is that you can apply them to the entire knife, lightly buff them off by hand, and you have protection that is complete and last a very long time compared to oils.
Over the years I have tried many products to protect blades, but I always keep coming back to the Mother's wax. It can be found at most Walmarts, and places like Checker or Autozone. It's about $10 a can, and a can will last a LONG TIME.

[HWooldridge]

You know, Ed, that Mother's Wax is probably a really good kink to protecting any type of ironwork, even things other than knives. I'd be tempted to use it on food products like BBQ forks and ladles - especially on the handles, then oil the lower contact portions with canola oil.

[julian]

I use Windex to neutralize the acid on an etched blade; you can use any sort of glass cleaner as long as it contains ammonia, which is the ingredient that does the actually neutralizing.

[cwilliams]

I keep a 5 gallon bucket of water that was mixed with a box of baking soda. I just drop in the knife to neutralize the acid. Next I wax it with a car wax as Edcaffrey mentions.
Chris

[Robert Mayo]

I sand to 1500 then after etching i neutralize in baking soda then just polish with flitz.

Bob

[steve sells]

after all that dont forget the basic Oil.