I've tried a bunch of things to remove fingerprints and oils from blades before I etch them. Things like simple green, spray brake cleaner, rubbing ancohol, paint thinner, engine degreaser... But I found something that works really nice and easy,3M

Useful tip, I´ll try it. If it takes out wax can take out any grease, for sure

I just use plain old dish soap the cheap kind you get for a buck and a sponge.I works great for me of course my blades usually go right to etch after sanding.

I wipe off with Acetone.
Take into the house and wash with dish soap and hot water to remove any petroleum distillates from the acetone, and then just prior to etching, wipe off with denatured alcohol.

I'll have to try the wax remover. Sounds good.

With the wax and grease remover, make sure ya wipe off with a clean towel before dipping. That stuff does leave a residue.

I just use plain old dish soap the cheap kind you get for a buck and a sponge.I works great for me of course my blades usually go right to etch after sanding.

I use the same thing followed by a wipe down with pure alcohol.
I etch in battery acid, it gives a slow etch that I like.

I spray with brake cleaner, rinse with water then wipe off with acetone - seems to work for me.
Ken

after trying a multitude of pruducts, acetone gives me the best results.... usually wipe down 2-3 times before etch.

I agree with the acetone. I usually follow that up with a quick shot/cleaning with windex, then etch.

Just out of curiosity kbaknife, why would there be petroleum distillates in your acetone?

Sandblast it! This is the way I go and I never had any problems with it.

If you use acetone or any other solvent, you still might keep something on the surface, except you wash it. And even then the time will come and there is so much oil, grease or so in the acetone (or so), that it will cause problems again.

Badger

Do the acetone and windex. Also once in the etch take it out after about 30 seconds and make sure it is etching evenly. I then rub lightly with 1500-2000 grit wet dry. If there was anything left on the blade it will be removed and not leave any resist on the blade.

ive been useing washing up detergent on a new (grease free!) pot cleaning sponge, rinse very thoroughly then dry it untill its squeaky dry with tissue.

Im sure the other ways are better, but sometimes you have to work with what ya got !

i like to use carb cleaner to remove all buffing coumpounds and grease, then i put in boiling TSP(tri sodium phosphate) dont really need to as the card cleaner works fin enough IMO but tsp really cleans the oils off good, over kill on the cleaning can never hurt IMO

Battery acid ie. sulfuric acid. careful that it's cold, they use boiling h2so4 to test how resistant metals are to acid by dropping them into it and counting how long it lasts. I think they usually last a few seconds :P