Cleaning the barn and etching steel

Looks awesome to me

Yeah they are good. Damascus is just a whole different animal.

Great job on the knives, especially for only being the first couple of Damascus blades. They are really cool if I could get one to that well I know I would be happy but I also am like you always wondering if it could be just a little better that’s how you know you’re a good craftsman!

As not a knife officianado, maker, or someone who's even held damascus, I think it looks great and we're always most critical of our own work.

Am I the only one wondering how you got an alligator to pee in the cup? 😁

After coming out of the etch and being neutralized try blowing dry with compressed air rather than towel drying. The oxides tend to set and stay more consistent when you air dry them. Then you can spray with the WD40 .

One thing to try to potentially get a slightly darker etch is to sand to 1000- grit and etch without buffing. Sanding up to 3000 grit between etching cycles. Not sure if there's any truth to the statement but I heard once that buffing can close the pores on the steel so it won't accept the acid as deep. I think I get better results that way so it's worth a try.

The etch looks good. There is definitely a give and take when it comes to etching pattern welded steel. There is typically some discoloration from inconsistencies in the steel and hardening process. I take it to super clean 800 grit (no buff), etch 4:1 ferric chloride until I like the depth, then instant coffee which I heat. I fully clean and lightly polish (2000+) the nickel steel in between cycles until I'm happy. That being said, I think it looks good and you'll never get it 100, just get it 80-90 and move on! Lots of makers only etch in ferric and it looks great, just looking for consistency IMO

the etch looks very good to me.

The very nature of pattern welded material will produce the variegated coloring, don't try to change it. If you want a more defined and consistent contrast, don't do as many layers using less manipulation between the folding. Embrace the pattern, don't fight it. If the material is properly welded, you will have those differences that annoy you. The etch is great, try to avoid the Abner Doble mindset. (Doble Steam Car) A revolutionary design that could have perpetuated the steam car into the combustion engine era, failed because of an unwise obsession with perfection, not product failure.

Use to have a s220 bobcat. I loved it. Couldn’t beat it for its size and power. Although it had hand/foot (mechanical) controls. I hate electric joysticks on a skid steer. Skid steers are not the softest riding equipment and add no resistance or feedback on the controls….. ughh, hard to be precise and smooth.
Sorry for the rant. Lol knife looks awesome, always liked skeleton knife handles. I can do it of course but I’m not a fan of wood working/shaping. 🤣. Hand sand to minimal 1,000 grit. Degrease…… you know the routine. Coffee etch, rinse, don’t sand, blow dry. Then with a heat gun heat the knife and apply carnauba wax, wipe off access and done. Works great for me. You can always try bluing salts….. that’s doing to much for me

You need to etch then sand in a 1 or 2000 grit, preferably a wet sand then etch and then sand again.

Are you doing an etch and then that's it. I've seen makers who will etch, then fine sand and etch again a few times. Might be worth a try.

Lucky neighbor, being gifted a John Deere tractor and loader. Hope the old 830 runs.

Something I learn with FC and with GP etchants is that sometimes I get a kind of splotchy etch. I started using a fish tank bubbler in my tank after seeing other people do it and it really helps with consistency and it actually etches faster. I got a double line bubbler so I have one dedicated to FC and one dedicated to GP so there's no cross-contamination. Give that a try and see if it helps you like it helped me

Looks great in indoor light but not as dark in sunlight.... I tend to stick with ferric chloride for etching damascus. Never have an an issue and with coffee etch its that much darker. Wonder if the GP is just not as aggressive?

They look great my friend. 👌