Ferric Nitrate water mix

[A.Merrill]

 I ordered a 100 gram bottle of Ferric Nitrate crystals (powder). What mix should I use, how much water to how much Ferric Nitrate?   Al

[Karl Kunkel]

I used 1:5 with distilled water.

[Paul from KY]

Yeah, 5:1 is the correct ratio, and use distilled water.  If you store the solution use a plastic or glass container.

[Angus]

Mr. Merrill,

Where did you order the powder from, just curious?

[A.Merrill]

Mr. Merrill,

Where did you order the powder from, just curious?

Ebay

[Chocktaw Brave]

 I used five teaspoons to a 4oz jar of water. Came out a golden color like beer.
I put on one coat and let dry, then a second coat.
I think the color came out nice.
I did use a sample piece of maple to test it first.

[rich pierce]

Looks good.

[Steeltrap]

I'm certain this has been ask before, but what's the difference (outcome-wise) between using Ferric Nitrate mix vs using Aquafortis?

[rich pierce]

I'm certain this has been ask before, but what's the difference (outcome-wise) between using Ferric Nitrate mix vs using Aquafortis?

When most folks say “aquafortis” they mean the solution that is the result of mixing aquafortis (nitric acid) with water and iron pieces, yielding ferric nitrate. When done by the hobbyist chemist and not crystallized and further purified, it is often still acidic and needs neutralization.

Some folks marketing “AQF” also include a touch of hydrochloric acid in the mix. Then it can stain maple and brown steel.

[Chocktaw Brave]

I should’ve said that it came out the color of “good beer”.
Not that watered down IPA $#@*.😁

[wvcruffler]

I did 25% (80ml everclear, 20g ferric nitrate). My everclear is 75% ethanol. Enough water to whisker a little if you sanded and enough alcohol to evaoprate pretty rapidly,

I'm certain this has been ask before, but what's the difference (outcome-wise) between using Ferric Nitrate mix vs using Aquafortis?

Aquafortis is nitric acid. Nitric acid is the acid used to dissolve some iron to make ferric nitrate solution. Some differences
1. With the crystals you have a known molarity (weight per volume) of your solution. When you make aquafortis-ferric nitrate you dissolve some steel into the nitric acid until it is saturated an no more goes into solution. I haven't done this but I would love to check the pH of that solution vs ferric nitrate solution from crystals
2. Making your own unless you are using pure iron there will be other alloy metals in there. I have no idea if that makes a difference at all!  I know one fellow who has some made with the turnings from Ed Rayl's barrel lathe!
That's the bulk of it. I suspect most commecial ferric nitrate labeled "aquafortis" will be made with reagent grade crystals and not dissolved steel/nitric acid.

OH!  may I enter a safety consideration!  If you are going to mess with fuming nitric acid (high concentraion) please get acid proof gloves/gauntlets. Nitrile gloves react with nitric acid in a "you are now in the burn center" sort of way. Fuming nitric acid is nothing to play with. mix it with alcohol and it can sit there and do nothing for a few min then explodes in steam and hydrogen sulfide gas.

Dr Phil

EDITED - 20grams FeNO3, 80ml 75% Ethanol. not milligrams!  Thanks Rich! correct units makes a big difference.

[wvcruffler]

I'm certain this has been ask before, but what's the difference (outcome-wise) between using Ferric Nitrate mix vs using Aquafortis?

When most folks say “aquafortis” they mean the solution that is the result of mixing aquafortis (nitric acid) with water and iron pieces, yielding ferric nitrate. When done by the hobbyist chemist and not crystallized and further purified, it is often still acidic and needs neutralization.

Some folks marketing “AQF” also include a touch of hydrochloric acid in the mix. Then it can stain maple and brown steel.

When you mix nitric acid and hydrocholoric acid it's then Aqua Regia!  It can dissolve gold.

[rich pierce]

For anyone who hasn’t made “percentage solutions” the old school way - weighing the solute, dissolving it in solvent, and bringing it up to volume, here’s an online calculator.

https://www.omnicalculator.com/chemistry/percent-solution

[okawbow]

I mix 1 part FN to 10 parts water for this shade. 2 coats, dry overnight before blushing.

[Karl Kunkel]

I got my Ferric Nitrate crystals from The Science Company several years back. 

www.sciencecompany.com

[Chocktaw Brave]

I learned from my dad a long time ago that even when using the same process, two different pieces of wood will always come out looking different.

[Darrin McDonal]

"2. Making your own unless you are using pure iron there will be other alloy metals in there. I have no idea if that makes a difference at all!"
 
There is a big difference in the outcome whether one uses steel wool, other steel scraps vs wrought iron, as well as how you make is.
Darrin

[wvcruffler]

"2. Making your own unless you are using pure iron there will be other alloy metals in there. I have no idea if that makes a difference at all!"
 
There is a big difference in the outcome whether one uses steel wool, other steel scraps vs wrought iron, as well as how you make is.
Darrin

I wondered about that. Not a ton of pure iron around. I was doing some practice screw turning on my lathe with 12L14 and had a bunch of turnings. Thought maybe the lead content might be an interesting addition to ferric nitrate. In the end I tossed them and just stuck with the ferric nitrate crystals.

[A.Merrill]

 A long time ago I got some nitric acid and made some ferric nitrate. I knew where a very old barbed wire fence was. There wasn't much of this fence left and the post were made from split rail. I don't know what metal was used in that old barbed wire fence but it made some good stain.   Al

[bluenoser]

Not a ton of pure iron around.

Try to get your hands on an antique sad iron (the type that was heated up on the stove).  They appear to be cast from pretty pure iron.  I have made a few rear sights from slabs cut from one.  It cuts like butter and browns beautifully.