vinegar etch

[mfwing82]

thought I would share some pictures of a vinegar etch I used on the metal of my last build

[Dennis Glazener]

How about telling us more about it. Looks good.
Dennis

[lew wetzel]

dennis,this process is real simple...cut some rags into strips and soak in vinegar then wrap the metal parts with the strips and keep moist with vinegar until desired affect...some of the fellas on the muzzleloading sites are doing this to thier "factory guns"...i for one do not care for this type of finish..might look good on an inline rifle.......but not a longrifle.....

[Dennis Glazener]

I have done that on Damascus knives to get the pattern back after sharpening it but didn't know it would leave a pattern on regular metal.
Dennis

[caliber45]

Lew -- We're all entitled to our opinions, and mine is: I like it. Nice effect. You probably wouldn't like my method of adorning rifle barrels. I glommed onto parts of it from another post on this forum. "Raw" barrel is spiraled with a mix of sulfuric acid and copper sulfate, then either browned or blued. The spiral applies copper color, similar to what Henry Deringer did to his shortie barrels (which I like). Gives some semblance of a damascus barrel (OK, OK, stretch your imagination . . .) on a rifle (carbine, in my case . . .), and is, in my eyes, a pleasant change from a plain browned or blued barrel. Ain't historic nor PC, but then I ain't, either . . . Different strokes, etc.  -- paulallen

[Z. Buck]

Dennis, i got the mottled/ patterned effect from vinegar etch by accident on a knife i made when i was 14 or so, its basically because when you wrap with fabric or paper towel, where the cloth touches, you get more etch and less color, and where there is a little space between metal and fabric you get the color from from the acidic vapor

[Old Ford2]

Hi,
Very nice job on the vinegar etch, the mottled effect is great.
Will the etch stand up over time?
I wrapped a barrel with a cotton thread soaked in nitric ( dilute) spiraled the full length.
It came out great, giving the barrel a wrapped iron appearance.
Best Regards
Old Ford

[Acer Saccharum]

This has possibilities. You can brush on acid etching resist (available from artist's supplies) with a feather to get a random damascus twist pattern. The resist is a sticky asphalt/wax liquid. Washes off with paint thinner.

You can also paint a surface with it, and draw a design with a scribe. When you apply the acid, only the bright metal will etch. Doesn't look as clean as engraving tho', the acid leaves a grainy finish to the lines.

[smart dog]

Acer,
I used acid resist to create a pattern that came out pretty well and it is deep.  I painted it on with small brushes.  I'll have to try a feather but I don't think it  will work very well because the resist is very thick (like molasses) and the feather probably won't be sufficiently rigid to scrape it away fully and cleanly.

dave

[rick landes]

dennis,this process is real simple...cut some rags into strips and soak in vinegar then wrap the metal parts with the strips and keep moist with vinegar until desired affect...some of the fellas on the muzzleloading sites are doing this to their "factory guns"...i for one do not care for this type of finish..might look good on an inline rifle.......but not a longrifle.....

I know this answer will vary with material, temp's, etc., but what would you give as an approx. time to get  this effect?
I also am thinking the same pre-clean-ups (like for rust blues and the like) would apply prior to coating. I cannot help but wonder if a rust bluing will do the same as most first coats show a greying of the material. Your example "patterns" the wet vs wetter areas of the acid.
I like the pattern, do not know if I'd do a barrel this way, but that matters not.

[Acer Saccharum]

I'll wager the rust blue solution would etch a barrel if left on long enough.

[Bruce]

     A bit of corrective criticism, if you will.  All of us have opinions, pro, con, neutral.  But I believe this site is for the dissemination and exchange of information.  It rankles me from time to time to see negative responces to someone's posting of informative information.  When a person takes the time to share it is inappropriate to retort in a deconstructionist fashion.  It is also an insult.  I remember Mario Cuomo, when he was governor of New York.  He used to say, "Any jackass can kick down a barn."
     You fellas that know of good tips, old and new, in building and finishing our favorite arms; keep up the good work and thanks for the knowledge.

                                                           BHB