FeCl affects on non ferrous metals

Atlantia · 11th September 2009, 09:28 PM

Just wondered, anyone got this stuff on brass or silver? Does it eat into them or affect them?

Rick · 11th September 2009, 09:32 PM

It blackens Silver, it seems to polish back up okay .

Atlantia · 11th September 2009, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

It blackens Silver, it seems to polish back up okay .

Ah, thanks.
I take it that it will do bad things to brass, isn't it used to disolve/etch brass sheets?

Rich · 11th September 2009, 10:54 PM

Yes, it is used to etch copper (brass is mostly copper) in printed circuit boards.
I wouldn't recommend using FeCl3 on brass.

Rich

Gavin Nugent · 12th September 2009, 03:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

Yes, it is used to etch copper (brass is mostly copper) in printed circuit boards.
I wouldn't recommend using FeCl3 on brass.

Rich

Neither would I, I have heard of stories when people have used it on Chinese Jian with the seven star inlay, it has eaten the inlay away. From memory, Josh or Rick some time back recommended that clear nail polish be applied to any any inlay before using it.

Gav

Atlantia · 12th September 2009, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebooter

Neither would I, I have heard of stories when people have used it on Chinese Jian with the seven star inlay, it has eaten the inlay away. From memory, Josh or Rick some time back recommended that clear nail polish be applied to any any inlay before using it.

Gav

OMG! That would be a bit of an 'oops' moment!

Battara · 12th September 2009, 09:24 PM

This also depends on the strength of the acid. If dlluted say by half, then the damage is controlled. I have etched by half strength before and less, and it has not eaten into the brass or silver. Mind you, it was not on long at all.

ariel · 13th September 2009, 05:12 AM

Sounds like a good way to age brass things artificially.

G. McCormack · 13th September 2009, 11:24 PM

Dont forget, it will dissolve things into its own solution. So if you have an etchant tank of FeCl you use for blades, then use it for a copper article, don't be surprised when the next blade you etch comes out lightly plated in copper.

Battara · 14th September 2009, 12:54 AM

And for that reason you use other acids to age brass......

ThePepperSkull · 23rd September 2009, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebooter

Neither would I, I have heard of stories when people have used it on Chinese Jian with the seven star inlay, it has eaten the inlay away. From memory, Josh or Rick some time back recommended that clear nail polish be applied to any any inlay before using it.

Is this an effective way to keep areas you don't want etched in their unetched state? Would taping off the areas be a better option or would the etchant just eat away at the tape?

ward · 23rd September 2009, 02:48 AM

Ferricc will go thru the tape. Any nail polish will work or wax

Battara · 23rd September 2009, 03:55 AM

The acid does not react to the acrylic in the nail polish or the wax.

Rick · 23rd September 2009, 04:54 AM

Wax would seem to be the traditional resist medium .
Easy clean up .

Gavin Nugent · 23rd September 2009, 05:01 AM

Wax was the traditional method seem on most European weapons when acid etched scrolls etc were applied to the blades, also a good medium to work with.

Gav

11th September 2009, 09:28 PM	#1
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	FeCl affects on non ferrous metals Just wondered, anyone got this stuff on brass or silver? Does it eat into them or affect them?

23rd September 2009, 05:01 AM	#15
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Wax Wax was the traditional method seem on most European weapons when acid etched scrolls etc were applied to the blades, also a good medium to work with. Gav

11th September 2009, 09:32 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,376	It blackens Silver, it seems to polish back up okay .

11th September 2009, 10:54 PM	#4
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	Yes, it is used to etch copper (brass is mostly copper) in printed circuit boards. I wouldn't recommend using FeCl3 on brass. Rich

12th September 2009, 09:24 PM	#7
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,345	This also depends on the strength of the acid. If dlluted say by half, then the damage is controlled. I have etched by half strength before and less, and it has not eaten into the brass or silver. Mind you, it was not on long at all.

13th September 2009, 05:12 AM	#8
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Sounds like a good way to age brass things artificially.

13th September 2009, 11:24 PM	#9
G. McCormack Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 131	Dont forget, it will dissolve things into its own solution. So if you have an etchant tank of FeCl you use for blades, then use it for a copper article, don't be surprised when the next blade you etch comes out lightly plated in copper.

14th September 2009, 12:54 AM	#10
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,345	And for that reason you use other acids to age brass......

23rd September 2009, 02:48 AM	#12
ward Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 637	Ferricc will go thru the tape. Any nail polish will work or wax

23rd September 2009, 03:55 AM	#13
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,345	The acid does not react to the acrylic in the nail polish or the wax.

23rd September 2009, 04:54 AM	#14
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,376	Wax would seem to be the traditional resist medium . Easy clean up .