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Etching formulas, this one vs that one

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I know a lot of guys who use ferric cloride and a lot who use hot vinegar and salt..Which do you prefer over the other and why?

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If theres another you like better Id love to hear about it...:)

I use two different ones. One is seven parts muratic acid to one part pcb echant. The other is pcb and water 50/50. The 50/50 mix will give a darker etch and the other lighter.

Steve

I use a mix of 2 parts hydrogen peroxide and one part muriatic acid. its yet another mix borrowed from the electronics guys.

Not sure why you guys are mixing other "things" with FeCl.? Depending upon the depth of etch and the time necessary, the only thing needed to alter its effects are varying ratios of distilled H2O:
Most common being 3:1, H2O:FeCl.

the reasoning for the mixing is that feric-cloride is expensive and there is no need to use it and its cheaper to use mixes and make a diffrent mix depending on what kind of etch you want that time

I'm still pretty new to blacksmithing and knife-making. Can someone kindly explain how the etching and use of chemicals work? Thank you.

the reasoning for the mixing is that feric-cloride is expensive and there is no need to use it and its cheaper to use mixes and make a diffrent mix depending on what kind of etch you want that time

You can get a whole gallon of FeCl that is full strength for I think $16.00. Probably enough to last a life time of etching. By the time you dilute it with water you've got a 5 gallon bucket!
It's not expensive.

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