so today i tried my first knife/damascus but a thought just occurred to me after making the knife....i made this out of pretty much the same stock will there be any patterns that show up? i used four separate 2" pieces to form the billet and folded it over twice. just wanted to get some guidance (buying the acid in a couple hours and wanna know before i use it). i think i know what the answer will be but just wanted to double check thanks guys

I would use this first blade as a learning experience but would save the acid for the next blade. Find some banding material and an old bandsaw blades, cut to lengths and proceed from there to make another knife. These 2 materials are different enough that they will show a pattern when etched. The other may show some pattern but will be harder to see. Make sure you clean the paint and oils off of the new stock before making up your billet. Good luck and let us see how it come out!

Hello;

I have made a few pattern welded things and the simple answer is yes, you should see something but the contrast will not be very dramatic. What you will see is the de-carb in the weld seams, same as in welded cable.

What you need to use for the best contrast is a simple steel, like 10xx seris and something a bit richer inb alloy, like L-6, O-1, 15N20 A203D/E or the like..this way the contrast will not be based on C differences alone, but on elemental differences between the alloys and that will result in different effects when etched, hence a better degree of contrast

Hope this helps..

JPH

Using the search feature at the top of this screen, searching on the word "etching" 121 threads came up. Here are a few that you might find interesting:
http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/f21/where-can-you-buy-mercuric-acid-14471/
http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/f14/new-pattern-welding-10652/
http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/f14/etching-10204/
http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/f38/etching-formulas-one-vs-one-7806/
http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/f38/etching-formula-base-7228/

I hope it is helpful.

PS: Whatever JPH says is gospel. I am anxiously waiting for his fourth book.

this post was great timing for me. gonna have a go at pattern welding. got plenty of 1 1/8" wide pallet strapping that test hardened up fine and i also have some 1/16" thick ground flat stock (think its what you guys over the pond call 0-1 )
not expecting miracles but will be a bit of a challenge.
got invited to a free teach in on making viking knives for re enactment groups earlier this year and want to take it to the next level.

If you are just starting out I would not advise making your billet that wide, get good at 3/4" wide and 4-6" long before trying wider and larger billets.